KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Marietta College softball team cooled off following its 4-0 start to the 2010 season when the Pioneers dropped a pair Tuesday (Mar. 9) afternoon at the Rebel Spring Games. Marietta fell 4-3 to Aurora (Ill.) in 10 innings and then 5-3 to Trine (Ind.). The losses dropped the Pioneers' record to 4-2 on the spring. Aurora improved to 5-0, while Trine picked its first win of the spring and improved to 1-2. [Aurora Box Score] [Trine Box Score]

The Pioneers loaded the bases in the bottom half of the first against Aurora but plated only one run when Sophomore Lisa Stobierski (Euclid, Euclid) drew a walk. Freshman Katie Swejk (Tallmadge, Tallmadge) scored the run after she singled, stole second and advanced to third on a Spartan fielding error.

Aurora took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Three straight Marietta fielding errors led to two unearned runs.

Marietta loaded the bases again in the fifth but only plated one run when freshman Michelle Sayre (Ripley, W.Va., Ripley) drew another walk. Senior Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville, Lakewood Hebron), who also drew a walk earlier in the inning, plated the run that tied the score 2-2.

The Spartans came back and loaded the bases with one out in the top half of the sixth against Marietta reliever Chelsea Chaffin (Wheelersburg, Wheelersburg). The freshman responded by striking out the next two Spartan hitters to preserve the 2-2 tie.

The Pioneers loaded the bases for a third time in the bottom of the sixth. The next two Pioneer hitters, however, were retired on infield pop flies.

Game one went to extra innings. After both teams struggled through the eighth and ninth innings, Aurora broke the tie with two runs in the top of the tenth. The two Spartan runs were once again aided on two costly Pioneer infield errors. Marietta plated one in the bottom of the tenth but ultimately came up short, falling 4-3.

Junior Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va., Parkersburg South) started on the mound and went three innings. She gave up two unearned runs on three hits and walked one. Chaffin (1-1) went the final seven innings, giving up two unearned runs on three hits to go along with six strikeouts and a walk.

Marietta had six hits and stranded 13 runners, while Aurora also finished with six hits and stranded 12.

Swejk and Daubenmire both recorded two hits, while Stobierski had two RBI in loss.

In game two, Trine struck first in the bottom half of the second inning. A sacrifice fly and ground out on back-to-back plays helped put the Thunder ahead 2-0.

Marietta responded with three runs in the top half of the third. Sophomore Kylie Kitson (Belle Center, Benjamin Logan) came up with the bases loaded and drove home freshman Marissa McDaniel (Pickerington, North) with a bloop single over the third baseman's head. Two batters later with bases still loaded, junior Cassady Busellato (Hilliard, Hilliard Davidson) hit a single down the right field line that plated Swejk and Kitson to put the Pioneers in front 3-2.

Trine came back in the bottom half of the fourth with two runs to retake the lead 4-3. With runners on first and second, Trine pinch hitter Lauren Harris smashed a bases clearing double to left field fence. Trine then scored another run in the fifth to push the lead to 5-3, which turned out to be enough for the Thunder to hold to two-run victory.

Strong (2-1) took the loss. The junior allowed four runs on eight hits and walked one. Chaffin came in the fifth and pitched the final two innings, allowing one run on two hits with two walks.

The Thunder out hit the Pioneers 10-8 and committed the only error in the game.

Marietta is off Wednesday (March 10) before returning to the diamond on Thursday (March 11) morning. Marietta will take on Carthage (Wis.) at 11 a.m. then play Chatham (Pa.) at 1 p.m.