KISSIMMEE, Fla. — What proved to be key in the Marietta College softball team's four-game win streak to start the season turned against the Pioneer during day three of the Rebel Spring Games on Tuesday (Mar. 10) morning in Kissimmee, Fla. Head Coach Jeanne Arbuckle's squad struggled defensively in its two games, committing three costly errors that all led to unearned runs against Marietta.

The Pioneers fell 4-3 to Albion (Mich.) in their first game of the day and then lost 4-1 to Shenandoah (Va.) in their second contest. The losses dropped Marietta's record to 4-2 on the season. Albion improved to 2-3, while Shenandoah moved to 4-1.

Albion scored a run in the top half of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. The Pioneers came back in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 1-1. Junior Katie Woolf (Louisville/Louisville) (Louisville) singled up the middle to bring home fellow junior Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron), who singled earlier in the inning.

The Britons regained the lead 3-1 in the top of the fourth by scoring two runs. Once again, the Pioneers came back to tie the score, this time in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire/Bellaire) (Bellaire) drove a ball deep to left center that cleared the fence for her first home run of the year. Fellow senior Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) scored on the homer after she singled to start the inning.

Katie Dotter homered down the left field line in the top of the seventh to put the Britons back up 4-3. The Pioneers could not manage to get anything going offensively in the bottom half of the inning against Albion pitcher Erin Giannotta and fell 4-3.

Sophomore Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) suffered the loss in her second start of the season. Strong (1-1) went all seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks.

Driscoll went 1-for-2 with two RBI, while Woolf finished 1-for-3 with one RBI in the loss.

The Pioneers finished with three runs on six hits and had one error while also stranding seven base runners. The Britons finished with four runs on four hits and stranded two.

Marietta found itself trailing again 1-0 after the first inning of game two against Shenandoah. The Pioneers came back in the top half of the second to tie the score at 1-1. After senior Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) (Wheelersburg) doubled to right center, sophomore Cassady Busellato (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) delivered a single to right center, bringing home Faulkner with the tying run.

Shenandoah added three runs, one in the fourth and two in the fifth, by taking advantage of two Marietta errors to lead 4-1 going into the sixth. The Pioneers once again could not find a key hit down the stretch as it fell 4-1.

Faulkner (2-1) suffered her first loss of the season. She allowed four runs (one earned) on seven hits with one strikeout and no walks in six innings.

Faulkner also paced the Pioneers offensively in game two by going 2-for-3 with two doubles and one run scored. Busellato also went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

The Pioneers finished the game with one run on seven hits and had two errors. Shenandoah finished with four runs on seven hits and made no errors. The Pioneers stranded five on base, while Shenandoah left four.

The Pioneers will be back in action on Thursday (Mar.12) morning when they play Hunter (N.Y.) at 9 a.m. and then Trine (Ind.) at 11 a.m.