MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team increased its win streak to nine games with a sweep of the Wilmington College Quakers Wednesday (Apr. 1) afternoon at Marietta Field. The Pioneers won game one 3-2 and then took game two 7-1 to improve to 16-6 overall and 3-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Wilmington fell to 6-10 overall and 0-4 in the OAC.

Senior Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) (Wheelersburg) got the win in game one. Faulkner (7-3) allowed two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and one walk in the complete game victory. Kylie Ford (0-2) took the loss in relief for the Quakers; she went 1 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits.

Wilmington scored a run in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 2-0 lead on the Pioneers. Marietta responded in the bottom of the fifth with two runs of its own to tie the score at 2-2. The Pioneers loaded the bases with two outs for sophomore Cassadey Busellato (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson). Busellato took advantage by belting a single to left center, plating two runs and tying the score after five frames.

Marietta took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a RBI single from junior Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron). Daubenmire's single scored fellow junior Katie Woolf (Louisville/Louisville) (Louisville), who singled earlier in the inning and made the final score 3-2.

Woolf went 2-for-3 for Marietta, who out hit Wilmington 7-6 in the win. Holly Sheets had two hits for Wilmington in the loss.

The Pioneers took control early in game two by plating all seven of their runs within the first four innings. Sophomore Hope Cowoski (Perry/Perry) (Perry) scored the game's first run after a fielding error by the Quaker third baseman allowed her to reach home safely. Freshman Brooke Baker (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) (Wheelersburg) doubled to right center, driving in another run to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead after one.

Senior Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) laced a double to left center in the bottom of the second to drive in two more runs and make the score 4-0. Sophomore Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon/Tuslaw) (Massillon/Tuslaw) singled to left later in the inning, scoring McComb and giving the Pioneers a 5-0 edge after two.

Woolf came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth and was able to single to left center, plating McComb who hit her second double of the nightcap earlier in the inning. A walk issued to senior Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire/Bellaire) (Bellaire) plated the seventh run for Marietta. The Quakers scored a run in the fifth but that would be as close as they came as the Pioneers won 7-1.

Reigning OAC Pitcher of the Week freshman Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) earned the win in game two for Marietta. Strong (6-2) went all seven innings, allowing one run on six hits with four strikeouts and four walks.

McComb finished the nightcap 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Baker also went 2-for-4 with one RBI, while Cowoski went 2-for-3 and scored two runs for the Pioneers, who out hit the Quakers 12-6 in the game. Priscilla Strayer and Sheets both had to hits for Wilmington in the loss.

The Pioneers will be back in action on Saturday (Apr. 4) afternoon when they visiting Westerville, Ohio, for a 1 p.m. doubleheader with the host Otterbein College Cardinals. Marietta will attempt to give 22nd-year Head Coach Jeanne Arbuckle her 400th win as she enters Saturday with 399 career victories.