Marietta's win streak snapped with 8-3 loss to SUNY Brockport
Etta Express returns to action Tuesday against Ohio Wesleyan

March 24, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — Jake Dennstedt, the reigning National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pitcher of the Week, led visiting SUNY Brockport to an 8-3 victory over host No. 7 Marietta College Saturday (March 24) evening at Don Schaly Stadium. The loss, snapped a four-game win streak for the Etta Express, who falls to 10-4 on the season. The Golden Eagles (8-4) have now won four straight.

Dennstedt (3-0) held Marietta's bats scoreless on seven hits over the first seven frames. The Pioneers finally scored a run off Dennstedt, who struck out six, in the eighth. It was the first earned run he allowed on the season. Junior center fielder Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp./Clintondale) knocked Dennstedt out of the game with a lead off double. Freshman pinch hitter Mark Lakas (Mason) greeted the new pitcher with a single, moving Piconke over to third. Sophomore Don Pugliese (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) then walked to load the bases. Freshman Bryan Wolfe (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) drove in Piconke with a ground out. Freshman Chris Beatty (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Lakas to score Marietta's second run of the inning and game.

The Etta Express added another run in the bottom of the ninth, when freshman Ryan Frost (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) singled and scored on Lakas' second hit of the day.

Marietta's three runs were not nearly enough, however, as SUNY Brockport had already scored eight runs in the game. It scored single runs in the first and second inning of Pioneer starter Nathan Eschbaugh (Marietta), who allowed six hits in three innings to take the loss. The Golden Eagles added a run in the sixth of sophomore Tyler Penwell (Washington Court House), who gave up four hits in three innings. Sophomore T.J. Knowlton (New Philadelphia) allowed Brockport's fourth run of the game on two hits in the seventh, his only inning of work. The Golden Eagles then exploded for four runs on three hits off junior Derek Cummings (Tuscarawas/Indian Valley) to take a 8-0 lead after the top of the eighth.

SUNY Brockport out-hit Marietta 17-11 in the game and each team committed one error.

Lakas finished 2-for-2 with a runs scored and a RBI. Piconke was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sophomore Brennan Cribbins (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) continued to do a solid job in place of injured Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, Mich.), going 2-for-4 at the plate.

Three Golden Eagles—Tim Wilson, Rob Maxwell and Mike Meola—had three hits in the win.

Marietta is back in action Tuesday (March 27), when it plays host to Ohio Wesleyan 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.