UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team's season came to an end following an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) doubleheader split at John Carroll University on Saturday (April 25) afternoon. The Pioneers needed to win both games to secure a spot in the four-team OAC Tournament but dropped the opener 6-1. Marietta, however, ended the year with a 7-6 victory in the nightcap to finish the spring 23-13 overall and 10-8 in the OAC. The Blue Streaks, meanwhile, locked up the second seed and improved to 27-9, 13-5 in league play.
On Saturday, senior Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) had her 57th hit of the year, which broke the school's single season record. She also finished the year batting .456, which is the second highest average in school history. McComb finished her career as the all-time leader in games played (159), hits (182) and putouts (983), while second in at-bats (507), doubles (24), stolen bases (47), sacrifices (41) and fielding percentage (.983). Senior Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire/Bellaire) (Bellaire) capped her career second all-time in games played (155) and at-bats (437), while third in RBI (74).
John Carroll scored all six of its runs in the fourth inning of the opener. The Blue Streaks, who batted around, had three hits and took advantage of four walks in the frame.
Marietta plated its only run in the fifth. Senior Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) led off with a single. McComb then drove her across the plate with a double to left field.
The Pioneers' offense, however, could not get any closer as it stranded nine on base in the 6-1 loss. Daubenmire and freshman Kylie Kitson (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) both had a pair of hits in the loss.
Senior Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) (Wheelersburg) allowed six runs (three earned) on five hits in six innings. She struck out two and walked five while falling to 11-7.
Marietta held the early lead in the second game after it scored two runs in the first inning. McComb led off with a triple and crossed the plate on a single by freshman Brooke Baker (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) (Wheelersburg). Driscoll drove in Baker on a fielder's choice later in the frame.
John Carroll tied the game at 2-2 in its half of the first and then plated single runs in the second and third to extend the lead to 4-2.
Marietta tied the game on a two-run double by sophomore Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon/Tuslaw) (Massillon/Tuslaw) in the fourth and then regained the lead on a McComb RBI single in the fifth.
The Blue Streaks answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth to take a short-lived 6-5 advantage. The Pioneers fought back with two runs in their final at-bat to win the game 7-6. Sophomore Maureen Kertes (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) had the big hit, a RBI single, in the rally.
Sophomore Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) picked up the win to improve to 9-5. She allowed six runs (three earned) on 13 hits in seven innings.
McComb and sophomore Hope Cowoski (Perry/Perry) (Perry) both had three hits and combined to score five runs in the victory.
