MARIETTA, Ohio – Despite a three-run ninth inning that forced extra innings, the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team ultimately fell by an 8-7 score in 11 innings to the host Marietta Pioneers in non-conference action at Don and Sue Schaly Field in Ohio.

The loss drops the Presidents to 26-10 on the season. Marietta, winners of three-straight overall, move to 17-18 in 2025.

Three Presidents finished with multi-hit games. Leading the way was a three-hit effort by Drew Garth (Glenshaw, Pa./North Hills). Jacob LaDuca (Clarence, N.Y./Canisius) registered two hits and scored two runs. Scout Zaas (Powell, Ohio/Wellington School) finished with two hits including a double. Garth and Zaas both recorded a pair of RBI.

After a pair of scoreless frames, W&J opened things up with four runs on five hits in the top of the third inning. All the damage came with one out. Consecutive singles by Brendan Cruz (Carnegie, Pa./Chartiers Valley) and LaDuca set up runners on the corners. Garth followed with an RBI infield single to the shortstop to plate Cruz for the game's first run. Knox Meier (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Prep) followed with an RBI single through the left side to bring home LaDuca. Zaas came through with a two-run double that split the game in left center. Zaas' second hit of the day plated Garth and Meier to extend the lead to 4-0. Marietta was able to avoid further damage as they were able to induce an inning ending double play.

The Pioneers responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half. Marietta took advantage of a hit batter and an error to trim the deficit to a single run. Nate Nolan (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) was able to escape with the lead intact. With the bases loaded, Nolan was able to pick off a Marietta runner at second base then record a strikeout for the final out of the inning.

Marietta gained its first lead when they took advantage of back-to-back walks and an error on a pickoff play in the fourth inning. The Pioneers recorded just one hit in the inning as they pushed in front by a 5-4 margin. The hosts added to their lead in the fifth inning, using a leadoff double, a sac bunt and a single to make the score 6-4. Marietta tacked on another insurance run, as a solo home run with two outs in the seventh stretched its lead to 7-4.

W&J had a few chances to rally back. The Presidents put the first two runners in the sixth before eventually leaving the bases loaded. W&J had a runner stranded at third base in the eighth.

However, W&J was able to break through in the ninth for a three-run rally to tie the score. LaDuca walked to lead off the frame. Garth followed with an RBI double to the right center gap to score LaDuca, trimming the deficit to 7-5. After Marietta retired the next W&J batter, head coach Jeff Mountain summoned Eli Owens (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) to pinch hit. Owens delivered a clutch RBI single to center field to score Paddy Hernjak (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), who pinch ran for Garth. Two batters later, Brian Feldman (Gibsonia, Pa./Eden Christian Academy) came through with an RBI double down the right field line that allowed Owens to score all the way from first base to tie the game.

Marietta put a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the ninth. However, Cruz was able to escape and send the game into extra innings.

Playing into extra innings for the first time this season, W&J suffered the narrow loss in the 11th inning. After seeing its first two batters retired in the frame, Marietta got a two-out double to put a runner into scoring position. The next batter fought off a 2-2 pitch with a tapper back towards the right side which was able to sneak past the pitcher. As the throw from the second baseman went towards first, the Marietta runner who started the plate at second base, was able to use heads up base running to score the game-winning run. 

Nolan started on the mound and worked three innings. Nolan gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits. Nolan struck out a pair of Pioneers. Justin Giarrusso (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum), Brandon Bastian (Barto, Pa./The Hill School), Jake Stiehl (Reston, Va./South Lakes) and Cruz also worked in relief. Cruz suffered the tough luck loss. The sophomore worked 3.2 innings out of the pen, allowing one unearned run on two hits. Cruz struck out four and walk one over 54 pitches. 

W&J continues its string of non-conference games versus Ohio Athletic Conference opponents when they host Baldwin Wallace on Wednesday (April 30). First pitch at Ross Memorial Park is scheduled for 3 p.m. The two teams met earlier this season, as the Presidents downed the Yellow Jackets on the road by a 14-6 score back on April 10.

Notes: The win by the Pioneers evens the season series. W&J earned a 6-1 victory over Marietta in Washington back on March 19. The win improved the Pioneers to 14-5 at home this season. W&J and Marietta have now split the past four head-to-head matchups.