Marietta College still has a pulse in the Mideast Regional Baseball Tournament at Don Schaly Stadium.
The nationally top-ranked and defending champion Pioneers got through "elimination Friday" in fine fashion, defeating Washington & Jefferson, 9-5, in the morning and Adrian College in the evening, 11-4.
MC, now 40-7 on the season, will face St. John Fisher in another elimination game at noon Saturday. The Cardinals are the only team to defeat the Pioneers in the tournament, claiming a 5-2 decision on Thursday.
Article Photos
ERIC LINDQUIST Special to The Times
Marietta College righty Mike Mulvey delivers a pitch to a Washington & Jefferson batter during a Mideast Regional Tournament baseball elimination game at Don Schaly Stadium Friday morning. The Pioneers won 9-5.
Manchester is the only team that hasn't been beaten.
"It's the whole survive or win and advance thing," said Marietta skipper Brian Brewer after the W&J game. "We always say the more you play, the better you get. Typically, that's the case, and it has been for us this year. When we play a lot of games in short windows, we play better.
"I'm proud of our guys and the way they came out and responded. It was a good response. It started with Mike (Mulvey) and ended with Mike, which was exactly what we needed."
The 6-foot-4, right-handed-throwing Mulvey (6-0) pitched a nine-inning complete game, striking out four, walking none, and scattering seven hits.
"I knew if I could come out, command my pitches early on and get ahead of guys, I knew the coach was going to ride me as long as he could," Mulvey said. "I was able to locate with my fastball and that was a big help in the early innings. We got some swings, and with the defense we have, it makes it a lot easier."
Offensively, MC left fielder Mitch Geers was 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs. Kirby Becker added three hits, a double and an RBI. Tim Saunders, Niko Stanislav and Even Brockmeier each had two hits and combined to drive in three runs and score three more.
"I just tried to put the ball in play, and it worked out," Geers said.
Washington & Jefferson, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, exits with a 36-10 mark. Ironically, the Presidents dropped a 9-5 decision to the Pioneers during regular-season play on April 9.
After staking itself to a 2-0 advantage in the top of the second, Marietta never looked back. Alex Toth plated one run on a fielder's choice, and Becker doubled home another score.
In the third, the Pioneers stretched their lead to 5-1 with Stanislav driving in two runs with a two-basehit.
MC scored three more in the fourth to make it 8-1. Geers' two-run double was the big hit.
Capping all the scoring for Marietta in the eighth inning, Aaron Hopper and Geers ripped back-to-back doubles.
"It just all comes down to pressuring the defense a little bit, and Marietta is able to do that," said Presidents coach Jeff Mountain.
Offensively for W & J, Ronny Peirish was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Aaron Kinec added two singles. D.J. Michalski, Josh Staniscia and Derek McIlvane each drove in a run for the Presidents.
In the nightcap, Marietta got a strong pitching performance from senior righty Kyle Lindquist, who normally is the team's closer.
In eight innings of work, Lindquist fanned eight, walked one, and allowed six hits. He was relieved by Luke Landon, who struck two of the three batters he faced.
The Pioneers also benefitted from five Adrian errors. Starting Bulldogs pitcher Brent Greenwood gave up five runs and only two of them were earned.
Offensively, MC's Josh Ungerbuehler continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Saunders, Hopper, and Toth each drove in two runs.
at Don Schaly Stadium
Marietta 9,
Washington & Jefferson 5
at Don Schaly Stadium
Marietta 023 300 010 - 9 14 3
W & J 010 101 020 - 5 7 2
WP: Mike Mulvey (6-0) ip9, h7, r5, er3, bb0, so4
LP: Randall Risch ip2, h4, r5, er4, bb4, so2
Tyler Dean IP3, h5, r3, er3, bb1, so1
Corey Young ip4, h5, r1,er1, bb2, so5
Marietta (39-7) hitting: Kirby Becker 3-5, double, rbi; Tim Saunders 2-3, double, rbi; Aaron Hopper 1-4, double, 3 runs; Mitch Geers 3-3, 2 doubles, 3rbi; Niko Stanislav 2-4, double, 2rbi; Evan Brockmeier 2-4, rbi
Washington & Jefferson (36-10) hitting: Aaron Kinec 2-4; Ronny Peirish 3-4, rbi
Marietta 11, Adrian 4
Adrian 200 000 101 - 4 6 5
Marietta 003 020 06x - 11 13 1
WP: Kyle Lindquist ip 8, bb1, so 8
Luke Langdon ip 1, so2
Marietta (40-7) hitting: Josh Ungerbuehler 3-5, rbi; Hopper, Toth 2hits apiece; Saunders, Hopper, Toth 2rbi apiece.
Next game: MC vs. St. John Fisher at noon Saturday
