’Etta Express hosts No. 2 Wooster today
From staff reports
POSTED: March 26, 2008
Wooster, ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division III baseball, brings a 14-game winning streak and a 16-1 record into Don Schaly Stadium today at 5 p.m. for a nine-innining battle against the Marietta College Pioneers.
The North Coast Conference Fighting Scots and the Pioneers are long-time Mideast Regional rivals and one-time Ohio Athletic Conference foes. They’ve met 13 times in the Mideast Regional with MC capturing nine of the battles and the ’Etta Express was 9-1 against the Scots in OAC playoff competition.
Marietta and Wooster played three times last season.
The Pioneers eliminated the Scots 6-3 in the Mideast Regional at Strongsville after losing a regular season doubleheader, 7-3 and 14-0, at Wooster.
MC did not use its three top pitchers in last season’s twinbill loss while Wooster went with its top two, including All-American lefthander Adam Samson who threw a three-hit shutout en route to an 11-0 season with a 1.61 ERA.
Samson is 2-0 this season with a 2.62 ERA and will likely see action against the Pioneers.
First baseman Sean Karpen (.500, 20 RBIs) leads a Wooster offense which is hitting .348. Third baseman Dan Skulina (.449) and center fielder Jake Sankal (.415) are hitting above .400.
Wooster’s only loss this season was to Ohio Wesleyan 5-2 in the second game of a doubleheader in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Marietta is only 4-9 for the season but swept potent Heidelberg last Saturday for a shot of momentum and is the OAC co-leader with John Carroll at 2-0.
Justin Merryman, who plays the infield, outfield, and pitches, is MC’s top stick with a .421 average and 13 RBIs. He’s belted five doubles and a homer. Third baseman Dom Winters is hitting .355 and DH Cameron Cimino .316.
Marietta plays a 3 p.m. nine-inning game against Ohio Wesleyan (9-7) at Delaware Thursday. The Battling Bishops are coached by Tyler Mott, MC’s pitching coach the last three seasons.
