MARIETTA, Ohio - The Kalamazoo College baseball team lost its NCAA III Regional opening game 9-7 to host and top-seed Marietta College on Friday. The Pioneers entered the game as the No. 2 team in Division III with a 39-5 record. Kalamazoo entered with a record of 26-12. The start of the game was delayed an hour due to inclement weather in the area during the morning.
After a scoreless first inning, Marietta pushed three runs across in the bottom of the second inning. Kalamazoo responded with three in the top of the third to even things up. Kalamazoo pulled ahead 5-3 in the top of the fourth, only to see Marietta reclaim the lead with five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Kalamazoo scored two in the top of the fifth to make it an 8-7 game. Marietta added a run in the bottom of the eighth and kept the Hornets from getting past second base over the final three innings.
Kalamazoo finished with 12 hits in the game but left nine runners on base. Marietta had 11 hits and left six on base.
Blake Bean had three hits including a home run and two RBIs. Bean's homer was his ninth of the season, a new school record.
Harrison Poeszat had three hits including a double and an RBI.
Noah Hecht had two hits with a double and two RBIs.
Spencer Baldwin and Lukas Bolton also drove in a run.
Kalamazoo is scheduled to play Saturday at 11 a.m. against the loser of Friday afternoon's Christopher Newport/Mount Aloysius game.