Etta Express takes two from Muskingum - Marietta College Athletics (2024)

MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College got a much-needed sweep against Muskingum University Thursday (April 18) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference baseball action. The Pioneers won the first game, 4-1, and came from behind to win game two, 9-6. Marietta improves to 15-14 overall and 7-5 in the OAC. Muskingum slips to 15-14 on the season and 6-6 in the OAC.

In game one, Muskingum's first two batters got hits off of Pioneer starter Trent Valentine (Byesville, Ohio/Cambridge). Sam Palmieri led off with a double down the left field line and Tobie Teke followed with an RBI single to center field. The Muskies would get just one more hit off of Valentine, an infield single in the second inning.

Valentine worked 6.0 strong innings but got a no decision. He allowed one run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Forrest Havanis (Washington, Pa./Trinity) (3-3) got the win throwing the final 3.0 innings and allowing no runs on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts.

Marietta tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jeremy Tonelli (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) led off with a double into the rightfield corner. Kail Hill (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) dropped down a sac bunt moving Tonelli to third. Austin Amburgey (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) lined the first pitch he saw for a double scoring Tonelli.

The Pioneers took the lead in the seventh. Nick Bonnizzio (Hudson, Ohio/Twinsburg) had a two-out double. Alex Richter (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) homered over the right field wall for a 3-1 lead. Cael Magill (Atco, N.J./King's Christian) singled and stole second. Ben Kaplin (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) singled through the right side of the infield plating Magill for a 4-1 lead.

Marietta's first seven hits in the game went for extra bases. Tonelli and Amburgey had two doubles each. Magill tripled and Richter had the two-run home run.

Jake Roshau (1-1) started on the mound and went 7.0 innings allowing four runs on nine hits. He walked two and struck out three. Caleb Linton threw 1.0 inning and walked two and struck out one.

In the second game Muskingum once again scored first. The Muskies got on the board in the second inning when Conner Thamann doubled to right center and came around to score on a double from Aiden Reis.

The Pioneers responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Diego DeCello (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) had an RBI double and Amburgey drove in the second run with a ground out.

Muskingum scored two runs in the third, one in the fourth and two more in the sixth inning. Palmieri delivered the big blow with a two-run home run in the sixth inning for a 6-2 Muskie lead.

Marietta took advantage of two Muskingum errors to plate seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kaplin led off with a walk and Tonelli reached on an infield single. DeCello hit a ground ball to the second baseman, but the throw to second base was wide of the mark allowing Kaplin to score. Amburgey grounded to the first baseman, but Tonelli was thrown out at the plate.

Trent Valentine (Byesville, Ohio/Cambridge) plated a run with a double to centerfield. Cole Yeager (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) picked up an RBI on a ground out. Bonnizzio had an RBI single, while Richter knocked in a run with a double and Kaplin drove in the seventh run of the inning with a single through the right side of the infield for a 9-6 Pioneer lead.

Gabe Torres (El Paso, Texas/Bel Air) took over on the mound to start the seventh and picked up his second save of the season with 3.0 shutout innings of relief. He gave up two hits and struck out two. Austin Ziance (Highland Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) started and allowed four runs on six hits in 3.2 innings. Zach Martzetz allowed two runs on four hits in 2.0 innings. Jacob Rocky (Strongsville, Ohio/St. Ignatius) (2-1) got the win throwing just two pitches in the game. He worked 0.1 innings.

Max Vosters (2-2) started and took the loss for Muskingum. He allowed seven runs, three earned, on 10 hits in 5.2 innings of work. He walked one and struck out one. Luke Spencer was charged with two runs on three hits in 0.1 innings, while Nathan Johnson tossed 2.0 shutout innings.

Magill led the Pioneers with three hits in the game. Bonnizzio, Richter, and Tonelli each had two hits.

Marietta hosts John Carroll University on Saturday (April 20) at 1:00 p.m. It is Community Day and the gates open at noon. Free admission for everyone and free t-shirts, hotdogs and beverages while supplies last.

Fans can follow all the Etta Express all year long atpioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook atfacebook.com/MariettaCollegeand @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram. Tweet #EttaExpress