Stu Beath

ADRIAN, Mich. – With some help from The College of Wooster's defense, Marietta College scored three runs in both the third and fourth innings, and the Fighting Scots left a series of runners on base later, which were the two key factors in a 6-2 setback to the rival Pioneers in Sunday's first game of the NCAA Div. III Mideast Regional Tournament, taking place at Nicolay Field.

Wooster (37-9) now remains on the field for an elimination game against the host school, Adrian College (33-10). Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and the winner advances to the championship game versus Marietta (32-16).

For the third-straight game, the Fighting Scots scored multiple runs in the first inning, this time jumping out to a 2-0 lead. First, Stu Beath (St. Louis, Mo. / Avon Old Farms – Conn.) lined a single to right field, plating Sean Karpen (Venetia, Pa. / Peters Twp.), who had opened the game with a base knock to right-center. Then, Wooster took advantage of a two-base error on a failed pickoff attempt when Matthew Pierce (Oklahoma City, Okla. / Casady School) drove in an RBI single up the middle to bring home Beath.

The Pioneers took advantage of the Scots' first series of defensive miscues in the third, scoring three unearned runs on three hits and three errors. John Snyder started the rally with a single just beyond the reach of the second baseman, which was followed by an infield single for Cameron Cimino, and both advanced an extra base when the first baseman was unable to handle the throw. Another error ensued on a grounder to third baseman for the first tally, and after a fielder's choice play, Matt DeSico dropped in an RBI single, with the ball getting past the centerfielder and resulting in the third run.

During the fourth, Marietta's three-run spot started with a pair of infield singles and a walk to load the bases with one out. Then, Wooster was unable to handle back-to-back hard-hit balls as Cimino grounded one to a drawn-in infield that glanced off the first baseman's leg for one run, followed by Chris Beatty's sharp hit under the shortstop's glove for the other two tallies.

The Scots had their chances to get back into the game. Their first two batters reached safely in both the fifth and eighth innings, but Pioneer pitcher Mark Williams escaped the jam each time. In the eighth, Wooster even loaded the bases with two outs, brining the leadoff hitter to the plate as the tying run, but Williams induced him into a routine grounder.

Offensively, Beath continued to swing a hot bat, as after going 5-for-5 on Saturday, he added two more hits in his first two at bats as part of a 2-for-4 outing. Pierce also went 2-for-4.

Scot pitchers Anthony Trapuzzano (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Canevin Catholic) and Matt DeGrand (Stow, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary) were both solid. All three runs off Trapuzzano were unearned during 2.2 innings of work, while DeGrand pitched the final 5.1 innings, yielding just four hits and striking out five.

Williams tossed five scoreless innings of middle relief en route to improving to 5-2.