GRANVILLE, Ohio (March 29, 2022) – The No. 21 Denison University baseball team hosted the top-ranked team in NCAA Division III in one game on Tuesday, but in the end, the Big Red fell by a final score of 10-1 against No. 1 Marietta College at the Big Red Baseball Field.

After Denison's starting pitcher, Will McManaman (0-1), got a swinging strikeout to strand two Marietta runners in scoring position in the top of the first, the Pioneers scored twice on three hits in the top of the second to chase McManaman from the game.

The Big Red offense, meanwhile, did not get a hit until a one-out double down the right field line by Danny Alvarez in the fourth inning, but it led to a run as the Big Red took advantage of an error by the Marietta second baseman to get on the scoreboard down 3-1.

Unfortunately, Marietta added three runs between the fifth and sixth innings to expand its lead to 6-1 while the Big Red did not get another hit until a bunt single down the third base line by Charlie Glennon in the bottom of the eighth inning.

In all, the Big Red trotted seven different pitchers out to the mound in this one while Marietta saw its starter go five innings and its closer go four. The Pioneers' pitchers combined for five 1-2-3 innings.

One highlight defensively for the Big Red was a leaping catch at second base by Payton Burch for the final out of the top of the ninth inning, but not before Marietta batted around and scored four more runs on just two hits, three walks and one hit by pitch in the frame.

With what was only its first loss against Marietta in their last six meetings, Denison fell to 10-5 overall on the season while the Pioneers improved to 16-3.

Now, the Big Red will turn their attention to the first two North Coast Athletic Conference games of the season as Denison plays a doubleheader at Wittenberg University starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. Then the next day, Denison will have a rematch against Marietta at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, in Marietta, Ohio.