MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team entered Saturday (April 18) afternoon's Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) doubleheader with visiting Heidelberg University at Marietta Field looking to snap on four-game slide. The Pioneers (21-11, 8-5 OAC) did just that with a 4-0 victory in game one. Unfortunately, the Student Princes (5-25, 3-11 OAC) used a big inning to take the nightcap 6-1 and salvage the split.
Before the game, Marietta recognized its three seniors—Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire/Bellaire) (Bellaire), Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) (Wheelersburg) and Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley)—on Senior Day. The trio will graduate with the most career wins in school history, having collected 109 over a four-year span.
Faulkner, who improved to 11-5, made her final start at home a memorable one as she threw a three-hit shutout and struck out seven in the opening 4-0 win.
Marietta wasted no time jumping on the board in the game. McComb drew a lead off walk. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Hope Cowoski (Perry/Perry) (Perry). McComb then moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when the ball was thrown away by the Heidelberg catcher.
The Pioneers added their second run when Driscoll had a RBI single up the middle with the bases loaded in the second frame. Sophomore Cassady Busellato (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) led off the inning with a single and scored on the play.
Faulkner walked and scored Marietta's next run on a bases loaded walk to McComb in the third to extend the Pioneers lead to 3-0.
After a scoreless fourth, Marietta plated a run in the fifth, taking advantage of Heidelberg's third error of the game. Faulkner opened the frame with a single. Sophomore Nikki Stone (Madison/Madison) replaced her at first base and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Busellato. A slap single by freshman Kylie Kitson (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) put runners on first and second. Stone then scored from second base on a fielder's choice off the bat of junior Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) when the throw to second base attempting to get Kitson at second base was thrown into left field.
The Pioneers out hit the Student Princes 8-3 and over came 10 stranded runners in the win. Busellato and Kitson led Marietta's offense with a pair of hits apiece.
Game two was scoreless through the first two innings until Heidelberg struck for six runs on four hits in the third.
Marietta, who out hit Heidelberg 9-5, plated its only run in the fourth on a RBI single by Cowoski with the bases loaded. The Pioneers, however, stranded the bases loaded in the inning and left nine on base in the second game loss.
McComb, who set a school record by playing in her 155th career game, and Driscoll, who has now played in 151 career games, both finished 2-for-4 in the nightcap. Kitson also added a pair of hits in the loss.
Marietta is back in action on Tuesday (April 21) afternoon when the continue OAC play with a doubleheader at Capital University. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
