Box Score
MARIETTA, Ohio -- Marietta College's first batter in the bottom of the first inning singled and came around to score an unearned run on a stolen base, error and sacrifice fly.
It was not, however a sign of things to come.
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Far from it.
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Not only did it prove to be the Pioneers' only run, but also its only hit as first-year lefty Chris Torre (West Springfield, MA) shut them out the rest of the way, until giving way with one out in the seventh to junior righty Matthew Wooton (Milford), who stranded the tying and winning runs in scoring position as the Eastern Connecticut State University baseball team won the battle of Division III's premier baseball programs, 2-1, in the third round of the Marietta College/BSN SPORTS Invitational at Pioneer Park.
The win is the fourth in a row and third straight in the invitational for Eastern (5-5), which has won five of its last seven since dropping its first three games of the season in Winchester, VA.
Against Marietta (6-8), Eastern scored all the runs it would need in the first inning, on senior first baseman
Ryan Parent's (Southington)Â one-out, two-run home run -- his first of the season -- after senior shortstop
Zach Donahue (South Windsor) drew a walk to open the game.
The win in his first start (fourth appearance) is the first in the career of Torres and save the first for Wootton. Torres had saved two previous games. He has allowed three hits in 12 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run. He has struck out eight and walked four.
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With Eastern clinging to its 2-1 lead, Wootton walked the leadoff batter in the ninth and a sacrifice bunt moved the tying run into scoring position. After an intentional walk put the winning run on first, Wootton got a pair of comebackers -- the first moving the winning run into scoring position -- to end the game. Wootton threw five strikes to the last two batters -- the No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in the order -- getting the first on a one-strike pitch and the second on an 0-2 delivery.
Torres struck out one and walked one and Wootton threw 2 2/3 hitless innings, fanning three and walking two.
It was the third meeting ever between the programs at Pioneer Park, first time in the regular season. The Warriors downed the Pioneers in the 1982 national tournament on the way to their first championship, and Marietta eliminated Eastern the following season, also in the nationals. Marietta has won a record six NCAA titles, the first three coming in a span of six years in the 1980s --all at its home park. Eastern has claimed its five NCAA crowns at five different locations.
Eastern looks to close out as the invitational's only unbeaten team when it faces Wittenberg University (6-6) Sunday at 1:15 p.m. at Pioneer Park.
