KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Head Coach Jeanne Arbuckle's Marietta College softball squad opened its 2010 season with a pair of wins Sunday (March 7) at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. The Pioneers started its 10-game Florida schedule by defeating Defiance College 7-2 in game one and Webster (Mo.) College 2-0 in the nightcap. Marietta moved its record to 2-0, while Defiance fell to 2-1 and Webster dropped to 1-3. [Defiance Box Score] [Webster Box Score]

Junior Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va., Parkersburg South) got the win in game one over the Yellow Jackets in her first outing of the season. Strong (1-0) pitched all seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits while finishing with four strikeouts and two walks.

After falling behind by one in the top of the first, the Pioneers responded with four runs in the bottom of half of the inning. Marietta's first three batters reached base, all on singles. Senior Katie Woolf (Louisville, Louisville) was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the tying run. Sophomore Lisa Stobierski (Euclid, Euclid) then belted a double to left center scoring two Pioneers in the process. Woolf was thrown out at home on the play. Junior Cassady Busellato (Hilliard, Hilliard Davidson) then singled scoring Stobierski to make the score 4-1 after one.

Junior Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon, Tuslaw) recorded her first RBI of the spring in the bottom of the second with a single to left field, which scored senior Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville, Lakewood Hebron) who singled earlier in the inning. Marietta added two more runs in the third. Freshman Katie Swejk (Tallmadge, Tallmadge) and junior Hope Cowoski (Perry, Perry) both recorded RBI singles in the inning putting the Pioneers ahead 7-1 after three frames.

Defiance added one in the seventh, but the Pioneers went on to win game one, 7-2.

Marietta finished game one with seven runs on 16 hits and overcame three errors. Defiance finished with two runs on six hits and made one error. Eberhardt and Busellato both finished 3-for-4 with a RBI. Cowoski and Swejk went 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored. Freshman Michelle Sayre (Ripley, W.Va., Ripley) also went 2-for-4 in her Pioneer debut.

Freshman Chelsea Chaffin (Wheelersburg, Wheelersburg) picked up the victory in game two for the Pioneers. Chaffin (1-0) went all seven innings, allowing no runs on six hits with five strikeouts and one walk.

Chaffin took matters into her own hands offensively as well. She helped her own cause by belting a double down the left field line in the top of the fourth, plating the only two runs of the game.

Marietta finished game two with two runs on six hits and no errors. Webster finished with no runs on six hits and no errors. Stobeirski went 2-for-3, while Chaffin went 1-for-2 with two RBI in the nightcap.

The Pioneers are back in action at the Rebel Spring Games on Monday (March 8). Marietta will take on Dubuque (Iowa) at 11 a.m. then play Misericordia (Pa.) at 3 p.m.