Pioneers knock off ONU, Otterbein in OAC Tournament

Marietta College’s Jared Bees celebrates after getting an out during an Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament elimination game against Otterbein Friday in Berea.
(Photo courtesy of Marietta College Athletics)

BEREA, Ohio — Otterbein scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Marietta College, 8-7, in the first round of the Ohio Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament Thursday on the campus of Baldwin Wallace University.

Aided by Pioneer errors, Otterbein took an early 2-0 lead. Brayden Carter led off the bottom of the first with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt. A throwing error by the Marietta shortstop allowed Carter to score. In the third inning, Carter reached on an error and eventually scored on an RBI single from Brayden Quincel.

The Pioneers cut the deficit in half with a run in the sixth. Ben Kaplin smacked a two-out double to left. Following a walk to Jeremy Tonelli, Austin Amburgey drove in Kaplin with a double.

Otterbein plated a third unearned run in the seventh extending the lead to 3-1. An error allowed Noah Sprowls to reach base and move into scoring position at second base. An intentional walk to Jamie Perebzak and a walk issued to Quincel loaded the bases. Cardinal designated hitter Gavin Thompson singled to center scoring Sprowls. Marietta got out of the inning with a double play to limit the damage.

Nick Bonnizzio led off the top of the eight with a single and Alex Richter doubled to right chasing Otterbein starting pitcher Kyler Archual. The Cardinals brought in their closer, Sam Sethna to face Kaplin, MC’s leader in runs batted in.

Sethna got Kaplin to fly out to shallow left field for the first out. Tonelli lined a single to left, scoring Bonnizzio and moving Richter to third. Amburgey followed with a sac fly to left, scoring Richter and tying the game, 3-3.

After holding Otterbein scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, Marietta plated four runs in the ninth all with two outs. After a pair of infield pop outs, Bonnizzio singled up the middle and moved to second on a throwing error. Richter was intentionally walked and Kaplin worked a free pass to load the bases.

Tonelli singled to left driving in Bonnizzio and Richter. The throw to the plate was cut off and thrown away at first base trying to get Tonelli. Kaplin came around to score on the error. Amburgey singled up the middle plating Tonelli for a 7-3 Pioneer lead.

Perebzak and Quincel walked to start the bottom of the ninth. A ground out to the first baseman moved both runners up one base. Gavin Wolf doubled to right field, scoring Perebzak and Quincel. Marietta went to the bullpen and put Jared Bees on the mound for Gabe Torres.

Logan Ullom slapped a single through the right side of the infield scoring Wolf and cutting the Pioneer lead to one, 7-6. A walk and a single loaded the bases. Carter tied the game with a single that scored Ullom. Marietta was forced to pull its infield in with Sprowls at the plate. Sprowls grounded to third but throw to the plate was in the dirt allowing the winning run to score.

Freshman Austin Ziance started and threw six strong innings for the Pioneers. He allowed two unearned runs on six hits, all singles. He walked one and struck out nine. Forrest Havanis worked one inning and allowed one unearned run on one hit with two walks. Torres gave up three runs on one hot with four walks and one strikeout in 1.1 innings of work. Bees (1-2) took the loss after allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits with one walk without recording an out.

Archual started on the mound for Otterbein and threw seven innings. He gave up three runs on nine hits with one walk. Sethna (5-1) got the win after allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with three walks.

Bonnizzio and Amburgey each had four hits in the game for Marietta. Amburgey had a double and drove in three runs. Kaplin, and Tonneli had two hits apiece. Kaplin had a double, while Tonelli drove in three runs.

MARIETTA 4, OHIO NORTHERN 2

Cael Magill’s two-run single in the eighth inning helped Marietta College beat Ohio Northern 4-2 Friday in an Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament elimination game at Baldwin Wallace.

Magill’s base knock broke a 2-2 tie to help the Etta Express stay alive in the tournament. The Polar Bears were eliminated with a 24-17 record.

Trent Valentine started on the mound for the Pioneers and tossed 7 1/3 strong innings, surrendering just two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six. Gabe Torres retired two batters to finish the eighth inning and earn the pitching victory. Forrest Havanis worked a clean ninth to earn his first save of the season.

For ONU, Noah Truax pitched 6 1/3 innings with four walks and four strikeouts in a no-decision. Blake Peterson took the loss in relief, going 1 2/3 innings.

For Marietta, Austin Amburgey doubled and drove in a run, Valentine singled and scored two runs, and Thomson Babineau singled twice.

MARIETTA 7, OTTERBEIN 2

A five-run seventh inning propelled Marietta past Otterbein, 7-2, in the team’s second elimination game of the day Friday.

The Pioneers now are hoping to play Baldwin Wallace twice Saturday. They’ll play at noon first and if Marietta wins, they’ll play a second game after. BW can secure the OAC Tournament title with one win, while MC needs two.

Jared Bees pitched 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Pioneers to earn the victory.

Otterbein starter Grady Kehr had bounced back after allowing two runs in the first, but things unraveled in the seventh. Magill hit a two-run triple to break the 2-2 tie and later scored on Valentine’s bunt single. Ben Kaplin brought home Valentine on a double and later scored on Kail Hill’s groundout.

Valentine had a three-hit day, including a double, while Jeremy Tonelli singled twice. Bonnizzio doubled and scored a run.

Jacob Rocky started on the mound for MC and went four innings, allowing just one run.