No. 30 Marietta kicks off busy weekend with 2-0 and 11-3 sweep of rival Muskingum
Etta Express continues trek Saturday with visiting Heidelberg and then travels to Wooster on Sunday

Apr. 27, 2007
NEW CONCORD, Ohio — The No. 30 Marietta College baseball team started off the final weekend in April on the right foot with a doubleheader sweep at rival Muskingum College Friday (Apr. 27) afternoon. The National Champion Etta Express, who began a six games in three days stretch, won the opener, 2-0, and then rolled in the nightcap, 11-3.

The victories improve Marietta's record to 23-8 overall and 10-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference and keeps it one game behind first place Heidelberg and Otterbein. The Pioneers have a chance to drastically affect the top of the standings when the Student Princes visit Don Schaly Stadium Saturday (Apr. 28) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The Muskies fell to 19-15, 2-12 in the OAC.

Sophomore T.J. Knowlton (Mapleton/Greenwich), who has emerged as the team's ace on the mound this season, improved to 6-0 with a complete-game, shutout victory in the opener. It was just Marietta's second shutout of an opponent this spring and the first of Knowlton's career. Knowlton allowed just three hits, did not walk a batter and struck out four.

The Etta Express, who finished with just two hits in the victory, took advantage of a Muskie miscue to score a run in the top of the second. Junior Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp., Mich./Clintondale) opened the frame with a walk, and then senior Joe Litke (Windsor, Conn.) was hit by a pitch. Sophomore Don Pugliese (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) laid a sacrifice bunt down the first base line and everyone was safe when the first baseman threw the ball away. Piconke scored from second on the play to give Marietta a 1-0 lead.

It was another Muskingum error that opened the door for the final Marietta run of the game. Freshman Danny Jones (Lima/Shawnee) reached on an error to start the seventh. He advanced to second and third on ground outs by seniors Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, Mich.) and Ryan Eschbaugh (Marietta), respectively. Jones then scored on a single by sophomore Cameron Cimino (Boardman).

Sophomore Karl Stevens suffered the loss for Muskingum. Stevens (4-3) allowed one unearned run on no hits and walked two in four innings. Levi Shaw pitched the final three innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits, walked three and struck out two.

Offense was more prominent in the nightcap, as Marietta banged out 12 hits en route to the 11-3 victory. Muskingum finished with eight hits and both teams made three errors.

Sophomore Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia) threw six solid innings to earn the victory and improve to 5-3. The left-hander scattered three unearned runs on eight hits, walked one and struck out three before giving way to freshman Kristian DeJeet (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional), who worked a 1-2-3 seventh.

Muskingum sent five pitchers to the mound in the loss, which was handed to freshman Ben Skelley. Skelley allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Three Pioneers—Piconke, Pugliese and junior Tom Doty (Mentor)—went 2-for-3, while Cimino was 2-for-4 in the victory.

Marietta took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when Litke reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a RBI single by junior Dom Winters (Washington, Pa.) with two outs.

The Etta Express compiled five hits to add four more runs in the third. Jones led off with a single, moved to second on a Eschbaugh sacrifice and then stole third. Cimino drove him in with a single to center. Cimino proceeded to steal second and move to third on a Piconke base hit to right center. Doty single home Cimino and move Piconke over to third. Litke greeted a new pitcher with a RBI ground out, scoring Piconke. Pugliese capped the inning with a single to left to plate Doty and give Marietta a 5-0 lead.

Marietta increased its advantage to 6-0 in the fifth, while Piconke singled and scored on a Pugliese base hit to left field.

Muskingum fought back with three runs on three hits in the fifth. The inning was aided by three Pioneer errors.

The Etta Express regained its focus and responded with a five-run sixth to break open the game. Freshman Jeremy Reese (Massillon/Washington) led off with a walk. Jones followed with a sacrifice bunt and both Reese and he moved up another base on an error. Eschbaugh made Muskingum pay for the error with a two-run double to left field. Cimino kept it going with a single off a new pitcher, moving Eschbaugh over to third. Piconke then drove in Eschbaugh with a sacrifice fly. Doty then walked. After another pitching change, freshman Chris Beatty (Seven Field, Pa./Hampton) had a pinch-hit single to score Cimino. Doty scored the final run of the game on a Pugliese sacrifice fly and Marietta cruised to the 11-3 win.

The Pioneers now turn their attention to Heidelberg (22-10, 9-3 OAC), who visits Don Schaly Stadium Saturday. Again, first pitch is slated for 1 p.m. The games will be carried live by WMOA-AM 1490. The action can also be heard over the Internet at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html with live statistics available by visiting http://pioneers.marietta.edu/livestats/xlive.htm.