COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team entered the final week of its season looking to keep its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament dreams alive. The Pioneers, who began the day tied for fifth place, had their hopes take a hit after splitting a doubleheader at Capital University on Thursday (April 23) afternoon. The Crusaders (19-15, 7-9 OAC) won game one 3-2 and the Pioneers (22-12, 9-7 OAC) took game two 6-2.

Capital never trailed in the opener as it got a two-run home run from Ashley Daugherty in the bottom of the first against Marietta starter Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) (Wheelersburg). Faulkner (11-6) scattered three runs (two earned) on eight hits, walked one and struck out another in the loss.

Sophomore Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon/Tuslaw) (Massillon/Tuslaw), who made her return after missing the last eight games with an injury, tied the game with a two-run shot of her own in the fourth. Junior Katie Woolf (Louisville/Louisville) (Louisville) reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Eberhardt's home run, her third of the spring.

The Crusaders, who out hit the Pioneers 8-7, regained the lead by scoring an unearned run in the fifth and then held on for the 3-2 victory.

Senior Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) and freshman Kylie Kitson (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) both had a pair of hits for Marietta in the loss.

Capital also held a 2-0 lead in the second game as it plated a pair of runs against sophomore Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg) in the third frame.

Marietta finally took the advantage with a three-run fourth. All of the action happened with two outs. Junior Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) drove in senior Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire/Bellaire) (Bellaire) with a bases-loaded single. McComb then hit a double to plate sophomore Cassady Busellato (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) and Kitson.

The Pioneers extended their lead to 6-2 with three more runs in the sixth. Sophomore Hope Cowoski (Perry/Perry) (Perry) had a two-run single, while freshman Brooke Baker (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) (Wheelersburg) added a RBI hit in the frame.

Strong (8-5) earned the win with a complete-game five-hitter. Baker, Kitson, Busellato and Daubenmire all had two hits in the victory.

Marietta will close out the regular season with an OAC doubleheader at John Carroll University on Saturday (April 25). First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.