Pitko, Fisher pitch Baseball to dramatic split at No. 15 Marietta

By Tim Glon

MARIETTA — Junior Tom Pitko (Youngstown/Austintown-Fitch) threw seven strong innings and senior James Fisher (Castalia/Margaretta) closed out the game by inducing a double play ground ball to lead the Ohio Northern baseball team to a thrilling 6-5 victory over Marietta in game two of a double header at Pioneer Park on Sunday.

The Polar Bears (2-6 overall, 1-3) dropped the opener 9-1 to the Pioneers (7-1, 3-1).

Pitko (1-1) allowed only five hits and one earned run while striking out two in 7.0 innings of work to pick up his second career win on the hill.

Northern saw a 6-1 lead after seven innings dwindle to 6-5 entering the bottom of the ninth.

Fisher entered the game with a runner on first and one out in the ninth. All four of his pitches were strikes and the final pitch induced a game-winning double play to close the game and give Fisher his third career save.

ONU scored four times in the top of the eighth to take a 6-1 lead.

Senior Matthew Burkett (Maumee), senior Krue Thwaits (Greenville/Milton-Union), junior Chayten Overholt (Van Wert/Lincolnview) and sophomore Jacob Wenning (Coldwater) had four consecutive RBIs in the rally.

Marietta loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth and got a walk to score a run and make it 6-2.

The ensuing batter hit a fly ball to shallow left field that was dropped for a three-run error and things were suddenly much more interesting at 6-5.

MC drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the ninth which got Fisher out of the bullpen for reliever Devin Johnson (Wooster), setting up the dramatic game-ending double play.

Burkett, Overholt and freshman Logan Stevens (Plain City/Alder) all had two hits for ONU.

In the opener, junior Corey McMann (Flower Mound, Tex./Liberty Christian) hit his second home run of the year (and fifth of his career) in the top of the first to put the orange and black on top 1-0.

The Pioneers scored four times in the fifth to take a 6-1 lead and went on to the win.

The Polar Bears will return to action next weekend with a 4-game series with John Carroll, beginning with a double header in University Heights on Saturday and concluding with two games at Wander Field on Sunday.