Marietta 15, Ohio Wesleyan 4

May 19, 2007

Freshman catcher Steve Ruygrok (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek) ripped an RBI single to help the Bishops take a 2-0 lead, but Marietta scored the next 14 runs and went on to defeat Ohio Wesleyan in the NCAA Division III regional championship game on Saturday at Mills Field in Strongsville, Ohio.

With the win, Marietta advances to the Division III World Series.
Wooster Regional Web site

The Bishops took advantage of a pair of Marietta errors to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Sophomore shortstop Logan Hronis (Rocky River/St. Edward) reached on a fielding error by Pioneer third baseman Joe Litke to open the inning. Senior righthander Sean Ring (Hilliard/Davidson) followed with a bunt, but Pioneer shortstop Ryan Eschbaugh dropped the throw from pitcher Justin Merryman for an error, with all hands safe. The runners moved to second and third on a sacrifice before Ruygrok singled home Hronis. Junior outfielder Brent Wilkins (Fairview Park/Fairview) followed with a grounder to second, but Eschbaugh dropped the throw from Pioneer second baseman Brennan Cribbins for an error, with Ring scoring on the play. The runners moved to second and third on a sacrifice, but Merryman retired junior outfielder Joey McDaniel (Dublin/Scioto) to end the inning.

Marietta took the lead in the bottom of the second. Jeremy Reese led off with a walk, and Cribbins grounded to junior third baseman Donnie Paul (Lewis Center/Olentangy), but Paul threw wildly to second base, with all runners safe on the play. The runners moved to second and third on a sacrifice, and Kristian DeJeet walked to load the bases for Cameron Cimino, who yanked the ball down the rightfield line, with 2 runs scoring on the hit and a third scoring when McDaniel overran the ball for an error.

The wheels fell off for the Bishops in the third, with the Pioneers collecting 5 hits and 2 walks and taking advantage of 2 Ohio Wesleyan errors to post 6 runs on the scoreboard. Litke had a 2-run single in the inning, DeJeet and Reese also had RBI singles, and Cimino plated a run on a fielder's choice.

The Pioneers tacked on 2 runs in the fourth on Ryan Eschbaugh's 2-run single, and added 3 in the fifth, with Eschbaugh delivering another RBI single and Tony Piconke plating a run on a sacrifice fly.

Ohio Wesleyan scored twice in the sixth as Hronis led off with a double and Ring singled to right, with Hronis scoring on Pioneer rightfielder DeJeet's error on the play. Freshman third baseman Eric McComas (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves) and Ruygrok followed with singles to load the bases, and Ring scored as Wilkins grounded into a double play.

Marietta's Dominick Winters wrapped up the scoring with a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the eighth.

Ruygrok went 3-for-4 to highlight the Bishop offense. Hronis and Ring scored 2 runs apiece.

Ring was the starting and losing pitcher for Ohio Wesleyan.

Justin Merryman was the starting pitcher for Marietta and held the Bishops to 4 hits and 2 earned runs over 5-plus innings to collect his second win of the tournament. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Ruygrok, junior first baseman A.J. Dote (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne)
and McDaniel represented Ohio Wesleyan on the all-tournament team.

Box Score

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