Knowlton's gem leaves Marietta lone unbeaten team in Mideast Region after 4-0 victory over rival Otterbein
Etta Express will play either Wooster or Otterbein Friday at 7 p.m.

May 17, 2007
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — The Etta Express is picking up momentum.

Led by sophomore right-hander T.J. Knowlton's (Greenwich/Mapleton) three-hit shutout, the National Champion Marietta College baseball team, an at-large selection to the post-season for the second straight year, moved into the driver's seat at the 2007 NCAA Division III Mideast Regional with a 4-0 victory over rival Otterbein College Thursday (May 17) night at Mills Field.

With the victory, the No. 18 Pioneers improved to 30-14 and are the only unbeaten squad left in the six-team tournament. Otterbein falls to 32-12. Marietta, who has now won seven straight NCAA Tournament games dating back to the 2006 national championshio run, will return to action Friday (May 18) at 7 p.m. against the winner of the Wooster and Otterbein elimination game, which takes place at 12 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., Hope (Mich.) will battle Ohio Wesleyan in a second elimination game.

Pioneer and Cardinal fans knew that Thursday's match up, the 11th installment of the rivalry in the last two seasons, would be another classic between the bitter Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) foes. They were not disappointed.

Neither team could get much going early in the game. Otterbein threatened to take a lead in the third after a single and an error left runners on first and third with one out. However, Marietta extinguished the threat by cutting down a runner at home plate on a double steal attempt.

The Pioneers got their first hit, a two-out single through the right side by freshman Jeremy Reese (Massillon/Washington), off Cardinal starter Doug Stevens in the fourth inning. Reese then stole second and advanced to third when the ball was thrown into center field, but he was stranded at third base.

Marietta was more fortunate in the fifth. Sophomore Brennan Cribbins (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) began the frame with a bunt single. Freshman Danny Jones (Lima/Shawnee) advanced Cribbins to second with a ground out. Freshman Kristian DeJeet (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) followed with a RBI double to left center field to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. DeJeet came around to score when a ground ball by sophomore Cameron Cimino (Boardman) went through the legs of the Cardinals' second baseman. Cimino proceeded to steal second base and move to third on a fly out by senior Ryan Eschbaugh (Marietta). He then scored on a wild pitch to extend Marietta's lead to 3-0 after five innings.

The Pioneers tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to go up 4-0. Jones, who led off, reached base and advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman. A sacrifice bunt by DeJeet moved Jones over to third with one out. Cimino then drove him in with a single through the right side.

Knowlton, who improved to 8-1, allowed just three hits, walked three and struck out three in the victory. It was his fourth complete game of the season and Marietta's second in as many days. Sophomore Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia) capped off day one of the tournament with a complete game victory over Hope with the Pioneers winning 9-1.

Steven took the loss to fall to 5-6. He allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts in eight innings.

Marietta had a balanced attack offensively as six different players had a hit and four scored a run in the win.

Friday's game can be heard live locally, beginning at 6:50 p.m., in Marietta on WMOA-AM 1490 and all over the world online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html. Live statistics are also available on the tournament web site by visiting http://athletics.wooster.edu/base/news/2007/regional/default.php.