Senior Josh Glassmaker had two hits and scored twice during the Owls' 16-6 loss at Boonville. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

BOONVILLE -- The gap between the Marshall and Boonville baseball teams apparently widened over the last year, although most brought back the bulk of their rosters.

The Owls exited the 2007 season with a 5-1 loss to the Class 3, District 14 Tournament hosts, and their return to Harley Park ended up even worse Monday with a 16-6, six-inning setback.

The game didn't start badly for Marshall as seniors Josh Glassmaker and Kodi Phillips hit doubles to plate a run.

However, it was the only run driven in by a hit for the Owls, who had to scrape to score.

The Pirates banged out 16 hits, including a two-run single by talented sophomore Chuck Jones after senior Ethan Williams walked the first two batters he faced.

Williams was pulled after yielding another free pass, but senior Jared Porter didn't fare much better -- especially after having a grounder immediately booted to let in a pair of runs. Porter pitched the rest of the way.

Singles by sophomore Okoye West and junior Shawn Bruce produced Boonville's fifth and sixth runs of the opening frame.

Senior Matt Pace walked, went to third when a throw got away during his steal of second base, and scored on senior T.J. Campbell's grounder in the top of the second -- but the Pirates got the run back on senior Zach Hulbert's solo homer.

Three walks, an error and a balk let in two Marshall runs in the third. Again, Boonville answered with a run on singles by West, junior Chad Oser and senior Stephen Fox.

Singles by Glassmaker and senior Tyler Smith led to a run in the fourth, but the Pirates kept pace when a two-out error let a runner in.

The Owls' final run resulted from an error, which allowed senior Michael Sartor to reach third base following a one-out walk in the fifth. He dashed home on a passed ball.

However, Boonville turned its 9-6 lead into a rout in the bottom of the fifth by scoring six times on six hits -- senior Dustin Ray delivering a two-run double and Jones, junior Will Parker, West and Bruce adding RBI singles.

The game ended in the bottom of the sixth on Jones' one-out single, giving the home team a 10-run spread.

Ray, Jones and West each had three hits, Jones knocked in four runs and Hulburt scored four times for the Pirates (3-0). Ray went the distance, striking out nine.

Glassmaker's two hits led Marshall (0-2), which begins NCMC play today at Kirksville.