Stu Beath

ADRIAN, Mich. – The College of Wooster struck for three runs in the first inning, five in the fourth, and two in the fifth, jumping out to a 10-1 lead, as the Fighting Scots rolled past Marietta College 13-3 during an NCAA Div. III Mideast Regional Tournament match-up at Adrian College's Nicolay Field Saturday.

Wooster (37-8) is now the lone unbeaten team in the regional and will not play again until Sunday at noon when it faces the winner of Marietta's and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's upcoming elimination game.

The Pioneers (30-16) actually led 1-0 after manufacturing a run in the top of the first, but the Fighting Scots answered by pounding out five hits as part of their three-run frame. Luke Sutton (Galion, Ohio / Galion) started the offense by hammering a ball over the right-field fence for a solo home run – his fourth this season.

Later in the inning, Zack Vesco (Pickerington, Ohio / St. Charles Prep) came through when he lined a two-out single to right-center, scoring Stu Beath (St. Louis, Mo. / Avon Old Farms – Conn.), who had also singled. That was followed by another sharp hit to right-center, this time a double by Michael DeBord (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / Woodridge), which brought home the third run.

Wooster's home half of the first could have been even bigger, as Shane Swearingen (Hilliard, Ohio / Bishop Watterson) also followed with a drive to right-center but Jordan Thompson made a diving catch.

In the fourth, all five of the Scots' runs came with two outs. Another key hit was provided by Sutton, who sent one back up the middle to score Swearingen from second. Then, a blooper to left off the bat of Beath turned into a double, which was followed by an intentional walk to load the bases.

Matthew Pierce (Oklahoma City, Okla. / Casady School) delivered the game's biggest hit, driving a 1-0 pitch right down the left-field line for a two-run double, and Vesco kept the rally going with a sharply-hit single into left-center for two more runs and an 8-1 cushion.

During the fifth, Sean Karpen (Venetia, Pa. / Peters Twp.) doubled off the left-center wall with two outs, and after a walk to Sutton, Beath ripped a double into the right-field corner, giving Wooster a nine-run lead. It marked Beath's 20th double of the season, the ninth time a Scot player has reached that milestone.

Wooster would tack on another in the seventh inning and two in the eighth, before Marietta plated a pair in the ninth for the final 10-run margin.

All of that offense was more than enough support for Mark Miller (Convoy, Ohio / Crestivew), who had earned the save in the Scots' opening regional game. He started and went seven innings, holding the Pioneers to the one run on just three hits while striking out six without a walk. Miller is now 9-1 with five saves this spring.

Offensively for the day, Beath recorded his second five-hit game of the year, going a perfect 5-for-5 with four RBI, which raises his season average above .400 (.404). With two hits and three RBI apiece were Sutton (2-for-3) and Vesco (2-for-4), while Karpen (2-for-5) had a pair of base knocks as well.

Also noteworthy, Matt Groezinger (Columbus, Ohio / Upper Arlington) equaled a school record with four walks during the game.