Marietta Advances to the Regional
Championship Game
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Marietta Senior
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Kris Buirley understands pressure baseball games.
The Marietta College senior pitcher added another big-game outing to his resume Friday as the right-hander pitched a complete game as the Etta Express defeated Ohio Wesleyan 9-3 and advanced to the championship of the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional.
"I was hoping to pitch against Ohio Wesleyan because I knew they were a good team," Buirley said. "I felt pretty good right out of the box and I had three pitches working."
Buirley, who held the Bishops (41-11) scoreless until the eighth inning, had six strikeouts and scattered seven hits to improve to 9-1 on the season. Just two years ago, Buirley went 2-0 in the regional to earn Most Valuable Player honors. Friday's performance was just as impressive.
"Kris really threw well," said Marietta coach Don Schaly. "He has thrown well about his past four outings and we have gained a lot of confidence in him. He is starting to throw like his sophomore year again."
Ohio Wesleyan coach Roger Ingles was also impressed with Buirley's outing.
"We didn't do a good job adjusting to him," Ingles said. "Buirley threw a great ball game. When you get down nine you to have a big inning to get back in it. We didn't even score until the eighth."
Buirley received nice offensive support in the third and fourth innings as the Pioneers scored all nine runs in the two innings.
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Marietta Senior
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Freshman Matt McLuckey started the Marietta scoring with a two-out solo home run over the right-field fence. The Pioneers added three more runs as junior catcher Jay Coakley and sophomore DH Brent Curtin each singled before senior Mike Deegan ripped a hanging curveball for a three-run homer.
"I've been hitting on top of the ball a lot in games, but hitting the ball well in batting practice," said Deegan, who went 3 for 5 with five RBIs, a triple and double. "I kept telling myself to be patient and it would happen in a game."
Marietta (43-7-1) added five runs in the fourth. Deegan had a two-run triple that scored junior Dusty Childress and Curtin. Childress also drove home freshman Andy Coble with a single. Senior Todd Timmer knocked in the other run with a single that scored Deegan.
"We played well in this game accept for two innings," Ingles said.
Timmer went 2-for-2 with a stolen base, while Derek Pauley added a single and one run.
Ohio Wesleyan used four pitchers, but freshman Tyler Mott (5-1) took the loss after allowing five earned runs in three innings of work.
Shaun Burchett, Scott Spriggs and Ryan Petrusky all pitched in relief.
Shaun Rice went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Bishops, while Drew Caravella was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Rice and Seth Tenpenny each had a double.
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