March 11, 2008
ABILENE, Texas — The Marietta College baseball team jumped out to an early lead for the second straight game Tuesday (March 11) at the Abilene Classic only for its opponent to battle back and take the victory. Texas University-Dallas, likes its Conference foe Texas University-Tyler had done earlier in the day, overcame a 6-0 deficit to win 10-7 and send the ninth-ranked Pioneers to its fifth loss in seven games. The Comets improved to 13-6 on the season.

UT-Dallas out-hit Marietta 10 to seven and was able to take advantage of four Pioneer errors while committing just one. The Comets left seven on base and the Etta Express stranded five.

Junior Chris Stewart (Dublin/Dublin Coffman) got the start on the hill for the Etta Express and was staked to a 5-0 lead after the bottom of the first inning. Senior Dom Winters (Washington, Pa.) had a two-out, two-run double and then junior Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia) drilled a three-run home run over the scoreboard in right field.

Marietta added a run with a sacrifice fly by senior Tony Piconke (Clinton Township, Mich./Clintondale) to extend its lead to 6-0 after two frames.

Stewart, who retired the first nine batters he faced, ran into trouble in the fourth. The Comets erupted for five runs on three hits, including a grand slam from Chris Biguenet, and benefited from two Marietta errors to pull within a run, 6-5. Texas-Dallas took the lead an inning later when Jared Smith hit a two-run homer to left field and knocked Stewart out of the game with the Comets ahead 7-6.

The Pioneers tied the game for a brief period in the fifth when junior Cameron Cimino (Boardman) walked and scored on a wild pitch. The Comets, however, responded with three more runs off freshman Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville) in the sixth to propel them to victory.

Levens (0-1) took the loss as he was tagged for three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out two in 2 2/3 innings. Stewart allowed seven runs (five earned) on four hits in 4 1/3 frames. He also walked two and struck out two. Sophomore Mark Jackson (Warren/Champion) worked a scoreless final two innings in the loss.

Adam Spinn (1-0) picked up the win in relief after allowing one unearned run on one hit in two innings. Drew Waggoner pitched the ninth to earn his first save.

Winters led the Pioneers’ offense, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Merryman finished 1-for-3 with a three-run homer. Smith went 3-for-5 and Neal Gordon went 2-for-5 to lead the Comets in the batter’s box.

Marietta will look to get back on track Wednesday (March 12) when it plays its final two games of the Abilene Classic at Walt Driggers Field. The Pioneers will open against Southwestern University at 1 p.m. and then take on host McMurry University at 4 p.m. The action can be heard live in Marietta on WMOA-AM 1490 and over the Internet at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html.