RIO GRANDE, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team splits its second doubleheader in as many days when the Pioneers defeated NAIA host University of Rio Grande 3-0 in game one but fell 7-2 in game two Sunday (March 21) afternoon. Marietta moved to 9-4, while Rio Grande improved to 8-4 on the spring. [Game 1 Box Score] [Game 2 Box Score]

Sophomore Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va., Parkersburg South) registered her third straight victory with an eight-hit shutout in the opener. Strong, who improved to 5-1, walked one and struck out another in the win. She finished Marietta's second week of the season 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA in 19 innings.

Freshman designated hitter Marissa McDaniel (Pickerington, North) and freshman second baseman Katie Swejk (Tallmadge, Tallmadge) produced RBI singles to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead in the second.

Freshman shortstop Michelle Sayre (Ripley, W.Va., Ripley), who finished with a team-high two hits, capped the scoring with a solo home run, her first of the year, to lead off the fourth.

The RedStorm out hit the Pioneers 8-7 and were led by a three-hit performance from Chelsie Brooks and a two-hit game from Jaymie Rector.

Anna Smith (7-6) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits. She walked one and struck out four.

Rio Grande led 3-0 after two innings and never trailed en route to the 7-2 win in the nightcap. The RedStorm out hit the Pioneers 10-3 and overcame four errors in the victory.

Marietta scored its lone runs in the third. Swejk drove in a freshman pitcher Chelsea Chaffin (Wheelersburg, Wheelersburg), who led off with a walk, on a ground out and junior first baseman Maureen Kertes (Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Cape Elizabeth), who had two of the Pioneers' three hits, reached on an error and scored the second run on another miscue.

Chaffin suffered the loss on the mound and fell to 2-3. She allowed seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits, walked one and fanned four in five innings. Sophomore Megan Born (Delta, Pike-Delta-York) pitched the final inning, walking one and striking out another.

Four Rio Grande players had two hits, including Allison Mills, who earned the win with a complete-game performance on the hill. Mills walked two and struck out eight while improving to 5-2 in 2010.

Marietta is back in action on Thursday (March 25) when the College of Wooster visits Marietta Field for a non-conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. WMRT-FM 88.3 is scheduled to broadcast the games. Their broadcast can also be heard online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/stream.asx.