It did not look like a split was in the cards as Marietta (15-7,
6-2 OAC) pounded out seven runs in the second inning to take a 7-0
lead.
Senior third baseman Nate McFarland (Canton/GlenOak) started the
Mount Union (16-6, 6-2 OAC) comeback with a two-run home run in the
fourth inning.
Fellow senior first baseman Cory Slaybaugh
(Hartville/Lake) gave the Raiders the lead for good as he
belted a three-run home run that was the highlight of
a fifth inning that saw Mount Union score eight runs on
eight hits and a Marietta error.
The hit parade continued in the six inning as Mount Union
batted around again and took advantage of another error to
score seven more runs and take a commanding 17-7 lead.
Marietta put two more runs on the board in the seventh
and the Raiders got one back in the bottom of the frame
as McFarland hit his second home run of the game and left
the score 18-9.
The Pioneers again threw two more on the board in
the eighth and an RBI single from sophomore Greg Ferrell
(Uniontown/Green) finished the scoring at 19-11.
Junior Mark Sabatino (Mayfield Heights/Mayfield) struck out five
over the first five innings to get the win and improve to 3-0,
while Brian Gasser surrendered eight runs over 4.2 innings to
take his first loss of the season.
Sophomore Matt Tracy (Pittsburgh, PA/Central Catholic) set
the table for the Purple Raiders as he went 5-for-5 at the plate,
while McFarland and senior Grant Sevek (Salem/Salem) each
finished four hits and Slaybaugh and Ferrell each had three
hits.
In the opener, Marietta jumped out early with four runs in
the first inning and T.J. Knowlton kept the Mount Union off
balance as he gave up only five hits over the first 6.1 innings and
Justin Merryman nailed down his fourth save as the Pioneers
scored a 6-4 win in the opener.
The Raiders highlights from the plate did not start until
the sixth inning on a three-run home run by Slaybaugh. Sevek
also had three hits and drove in a run in the seventh but the rally
ended there.
Paul Mariotti (Copley/Copley) took the loss for the Raiders.
Mount Union stays home Saturday to host another first place team
in No. 11 Heidelberg University in an OAC doubleheader at 1 pm at
23rd Street Field in Alliance.
