April 6, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — Senior Tony Piconke (Clinton Township, Mich./Clintondale) finished 3-for-5 with a home run and four other Pioneers had two hits to spark the Marietta College baseball team to a 7-2 victory over non conference foe Wittenberg University Sunday (April 6) evening at Don Schaly Stadium. The win improved the Etta Express' record to 9-13, while the Tigers fell to 9-8 on the season.

Piconke, who hit a pair of home runs against Wittenberg in their meeting last year, jump started the offense with a solo shot to left field to open the first inning. Marietta plated two more runs in the third to extend their lead. Junior Justin Merryman (New Philadelphia) opened the frame with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Senior Dom Winters (Washington, Pa.) followed with a RBI single to right center. Freshman Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville) then reached on a fielder’s choice; Winters was safe at second on a throwing error. A single by sophomore Ryan Frost (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) loaded the bases. Sophomore Tyler Penwell (Washington Court House) followed with another walk to force in Winters with the second run of the inning.

Wittenberg cut the lead to two runs, 3-1, in the fourth. Three straight one-out singles against junior Chris Stewart (Dublin/Dublin Coffman) produced the run. J.T. Thompson had the RBI with a base hit up the middle.

The Pioneers used a four-run fifth to break open the game by extending their advantage to 7-1. All four runs came with two outs. Frost got things going with a single. Penwell walked. Junior Josh Spicer (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) then doubled home Frost. Sophomore Danny Jones (Lima/Shawnee) followed with a three-run home run to left field. The blast was the first of his career.

Stewart (2-1) scattered one run on seven hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out one in the victory. Junior Jason Baumler (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill) threw three scoreless innings of relief before Levens closed out the victory by pitching the ninth. He did allow the Tigers to score one run but Marietta won the game 7-2.

Tim Antil (2-2) gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits in four frames. He walked two and struck out one. Bobby Ciucki threw the final four innings. He allowed four runs on five hits while walking one and fanning two.

Merryman, Winters, Frost and Jones all went 2-for-4 in the win, which saw Marietta collected 13 hits. Wittenberg finished with 11 hits; Patrick Williams and Chris Dorka both had a pair of singles in the loss.

Marietta is back in action on Wednesday (April 9) afternoon when Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) leader Mount Union College (13-6, 6-0 OAC) visits Don Schaly Stadium for a key league doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. The action can be heard live locally in Marietta on WMOA-AM 1490 and over the Internet at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html.