Marietta College defeats Washington & Jefferson, 12-4
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Marietta College extended its winning streak to five straight games after defeating the Presidents from Washington & Jefferson, 12-4, in a game that was called after eight innings due to weather Wednesday afternoon at Don and Sue Schaly Field at Pioneer Park.
Leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Marietta sent 12 batters to the plate and touched Washington & Jefferson reliever Rafe McClure for eight runs without the right-hander recording an out.
Ty Davis, who hit a two-run homer in the first inning, started the line moving in the fourth inning with a double. The Pioneers added run-scoring singles from Ben Kaplin, Matthew Busby and Nick Bonnizzio. Alex Richter contributed a two-run double to bring to an end McClure's appearance.
When all was said and done in the inning, Davis added a sacrifice fly and Trent Valentine doubled home the eighth run of the frame.
Brett Carson added to the hit parade with a pair of late doubles, including one of the ground-rule variety which tacked on two runs in the seventh inning. Out of the nine-hole, Pioneer starting shortstop Matthew Busby went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI.
Receiving the start for Marietta, Gino Sabatine lasted three-plus innings. The senior was given the decision after allowing one run on two hits. He also walked three while striking out one.
A total of five relievers covered the final five innings for the Pioneers. Despite a hiccup in the top of the eighth inning when the Presidents plated three runs, the relief corps did not allow any more runs and surrendered just one additional hit.
The 16th-ranked Pioneers, who have scored in double figures during their current five-game win streak, improves to 17-6. Washington & Jefferson, playing its fifth game in three days, drops to 14-9.
"Our frontline guys are throwing well, we are playing solid defense and our frontline hitters are hitting well -- they are very productive," Marietta College coach Brian Brewer said. "We just have to start finding additional guys to make positive contributions in key spots. If we can do that, we will be fine."
Next for Marietta is an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader in Berea, Ohio, Friday afternoon against sixth-ranked Baldwin Wallace.
"Those rankings are all for recruiting -- it means nothing to us," said Valentine, who went 3-for-3 at the dish with double, run scored, one RBI and two steals.
"We play our baseball whether they rank us, not ranked or No. 1 in the country. We are playing the same brand of baseball we always do.
"Right now, we are finally meshing as a group. I think the kickstart to the OAC really got us together and made us realize how serious this is. It's a good thing we came together when we did and look to carry it on."
Trailing 12-1 in the eighth inning, Washington & Jefferson showed some life after the first two batters reached base safely. One out later, Joe Lehner took advantage of a sudden burst of wind and lifted a fly ball over the right field fence for the wind-aided three-run homer.
"We are excited about the opportunity to play on Friday against a quality team," Brewer said. "To W&J's credit, they were really short-staffed and I think all their games this week had an effect on tonight's outcome. Between (Washington & Jefferson, and Baldwin Wallace), I think they are the top two, three, four teams in the region. So it's a good week as a whole. We've done OK so far, but Baldwin Wallace will certainly be our biggest challenge of the week. Hopefully, we are up for it."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com