Box Score

DEMOREST, GA – Catcher Alex Toth hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give top ranked Marietta College a 6-5 win over sixth ranked Rowan University on Friday night.  The game was played at Piedmont College.

Marietta was ahead, 5-3 after the eighth inning.  In the top of the ninth, Rowan shortstop Marc Magliaro (sr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) hit a one out double to left center field.  Third baseman Mark Benak (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) followed with a single.  He went to second on an error and Magliaro scored.  Right fielder Matt Hill (sr. Hamilton Square, NJ/Robbinsville) hit a single up the middle and Benak came home.  In the bottom half, shortstop Tim Saunders reached base on an error.  He moved to third on a fielder’s choice.  Toth ripped a single to right center field and Saunders crossed the plate.

The Pioneers improve to 8-3, while the Profs have a 10-2 record.  Right-hander Logan Lewis picked up the win in relief.  He (2-0) threw 2.1 innings, allowing four runs, three earned.  Righty Brian Rice (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) took the loss.  Rice (1-1) gave up one unearned run in one inning.

Toth finished the game with two hits (four at bats), one RBI, one run scored and a double.  First baseman Evan Brockmeier went four for four.  Saunders produced one hit (three at bats), two RBIs, two runs scored and a triple.  Left fielder Andrew Coffey had two hits (three at bats) and one run scored.  Second baseman Kirby Becker compiled one hit (four at bats), two runs scored and one double. 

For Rowan, Magliaro went two for four with one run scored and two doubles.  Benak posted two hits (four at bats) and two runs scored.  Hill added two hits (five at bats) and one RBI.  First baseman Sean Kelly (jr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) tallied one hit (four at bats), one RBI and one run scored.  Catcher Nick Turano (sr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) contributed with one hit (four at bats) and one run scored.  Center fielder Scott Bruno (so. Middletown, NJ/Middletown S.) chipped in with one hit (one at bat) and two RBIs.

Marietta took a 2-0 lead in the third inning.  Saunders drove in the two runs with a triple to left center field.  In the top of the fourth, Benak and Turano walked.  They advanced to second and third on a wild pitch.  Benak scored on a ground out with Kelly at the plate.  In the bottom of the inning, Toth hit a leadoff double to right center field.  He later came home on an error.

The Pioneers added one run in the fifth to go up, 4-1.  Becker doubled to right center field and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.  Becker crossed the plate on an error.  Marietta extended the lead to four (5-1) with one run in the seventh.  Saunders walked and scored on a fielder’s choice.  The Profs pulled within two (5-3) with two runs in the eighth.  Turano, Kelly and designated hitter Casey Grimes (fr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) loaded the bases with three straight singles.  Bruno ripped a base hit through the right side and Kelly and Turano came in.

Rowan concludes its spring break trip against Centre College (KY) on Saturday, March 17 at noon.  The game will be played at Piedmont College.