Eschbaugh and Knowlton post victories as No. 30 Marietta sweeps host Ohio Northern, 1-0 and 4-1
Marietta will host Mount Union Tuesday on Community Day

Apr. 16, 2007
ADA, Ohio — The No. 30 Marietta College baseball team picked up a pair of key Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) road wins Monday (Apr. 16) afternoon as it defeated host Ohio Northern, 1-0 and 4-1. The wind, which gusted up to 35 mph toward home plate, limited both offenses throughout the day.

Marietta (17-7, 5-3 OAC) managed just one hit and scored one run in the opener, but freshman Nate Eschbaugh (Marietta) made it hold up with a complete-game, six-hit shutout. Eschbaugh, who struck out a career-high seven, improved to 3-1 on the spring.

Ohio Northern (8-15, 2-6 OAC) committed four errors in the game, including three in the second inning, to help Marietta plate the only run of the game. Freshman Jeremy Reese (Massillon/Washington) reached on an error by the center fielder with one out in the third. Senior Ryan Eschbaugh (Marietta) followed with a grounder to third two batters later. The throw from was low and got away from the first baseman, who then scrambled and threw wildly back to third, which allowed Reese to score all the way from first.

The Pioneers' only hit came from senior Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, Mich.) in the fifth, but he was stranded at first base. Phil Bruns was 3-for-3 off Eschbaugh in the game.

Mark Sankovich (2-4) suffered the loss. He walked one and struck out five over seven innings.

The Polar Bears took a 1-0 lead off sophomore T.J. Knowlton (Greenwich/Mapleton) in the first inning of the nightcap. Ohio Northern had back-to-back two out singles and the pulled off a double steal to plate the run.

Marietta, who had just five hits in the first six innings, waited until its last at-bat to finally get on the board against Ohio Northern. The Pioneers erupted for four runs on five hits to take a 4-1 lead. Belanger singled up the middle with one out. Junior Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp., Mich./Clintondale) followed with a single through the right side, advancing Belanger to third. After Piconke stole second, sophomore Don Pugliese (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) drove in Belanger with a single to right field. Reese then delivered a pinch-hit double to score Piconke with the go-ahead run. Pugliese later scored on a ground out by senior Joe Litke (Windsor, Conn.) and Reese crossed the plate on a single by junior Tom Doty (Mentor).

Knowlton (4-0) allowed just one run on four hits while striking out a career-high seven in the complete-game victory.

Marietta finished with 10 hits and overcame three errors in the nightcap. Piconke and Pugliese finished 2-for-4, while Eschbaugh was 2-for-3.

The Etta Express returns to action Tuesday (Apr. 17) when it plays host to Ohio Athletic Conference rival Mount Union at 4 p.m. Tuesday is Community Day at Don Schaly Stadium. There will be free admission, food, t-shirts and prizes as well as fireworks after the second game. The doubleheader will be carried live by WMOA-AM 1490. The action can also be heard over the Internet at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html. Live stats can be obtained at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/livestats/xlive.htm.