Etta Express pounds out 16 hits in 11-3 victory over visiting Waynesburg (Pa.)
A trio of Pioneers have three hits in win

March 21, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — The No. 7 Marietta College baseball team gave its batting average a boost during an 11-3 victory over visiting Waynesburg (Pa.) College Wednesday (March 21) at Don Schaly Stadium. The Pioneers, who matched a season-high with 16 hits and raised its batting average to .293, improved to 10-3 on the year. The Yellow Jackets fell to 5-6.

Three Marietta players —senior Joe Litke (Windsor, Conn.) and sophomores Cameron Cimino (Boardman) and Don Pugliese (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny)—finished with three hits, while two others—junior Dom Winters (Washington, Pa.) and freshman Danny Jones (Lima/Shawnee)—had a pair of hits off Waynesburg, who sent eight different pitchers to the hill. Litke, Winters and Cimino each had two doubles in the win, the fourth straight for the Etta Express.

Marietta started the scoring with a three-run second inning. Cimino led off with a single, and Pugliese was hit by a pitch. Winters followed with a RBI double to left center, scoring Cimino. Jones made it 2-0 with a single to right, plating Pugliese. Winters came around to score on a RBI ground out by sophomore Brennan Cribbins (Middleburg Heights/Midpark). Cribbins got the start at second base in place of senior Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, Mich.), who was nursing a hamstring injury.

The Pioneers broke open the game with five runs in the third. Junior Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp., Mich./Clintondale) began the frame with an infield single. Litke followed with a single down the right field line, moving Piconke to third. After Cimino walked, Pugliese drove in Piconke and Litke with a single to center field. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch, before Winters plated Cimino with a sacrifice fly. Jones, the next hitter, singled Pugliese over to third base. Pugliese was thrown out at the plate on a double steal attempt. Cribbins singled to right to score Jones and then stole second base. He later scored on a RBI single by sophomore Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia).

Marietta added a ninth run in the fourth, when Winters doubled home Pugliese, who singled a batter earlier.

Waynesburg finally got on the board against Marietta freshman starter Joe Pitrone (Highland Heights/Mayfield) in the sixth, when it strung together three straight two-out singles.

The Etta Express answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth, when Litke and Cimino opened the inning with back-to-back doubles.

The Yellow Jackets knocked out Pitrone with two more runs in the seventh. Junior Derek Cummings (Tuscarawas/Indian Valley) came in to get out of jam by inducing the 6-4-3 double play and the striking out the next hitter.

Marietta completed the scoring in the eighth, when Litke and Cimino repeated their performances in the sixth with back-to-back doubles to start the frame.

Pitrone (2-0) earned the win, scattering three runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out two in six innings. Cummings worked two shutout innings, while Pugliese closed the door after allowing a hit in the ninth.

Adam Bear took the loss for the Yellow Jackets to fall to 0-1 on the spring.

Cimino finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Litke was 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Pugliese ended the day 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Winters was 2-for-3 with a runs scored and three RBI.

Wes White, Ryan Group and Landon Sinclair each had two its for Waynesburg.

Marietta is back in action Saturday (March 24), when it plays host to SUNY-Brockport in a single, nine-inning game at 5 p.m. The game will be carried live by WMOA-AM 1490. The action can also be heard over the Internet at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html and live statistics are available by visiting http://pioneers.marietta.edu/livestats/xlive.htm.