MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College softball kept its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament hopes alive with a doubleheader split against visiting John Carroll University Sunday (April 25) afternoon at Marietta Field. The Blue Streaks took game one 2-0, while the Pioneers won game two 6-1. [Game 1 Box Score] [Game 2 Box Score]

Marietta improved its record to 18-13 overall and 6-8 in the OAC. It is currently tied with Capital University and Muskingum University for fifth place in the standings. The three teams also share the same number of wins as fourth place Heidelberg University, who is 6-6. Third place John Carroll moved to 21-15 overall and 8-6 in league play.

Marietta out hit John Carroll 5-4 but it could not overcome three errors in the opener. The Pioneers had their chances on the base paths but struggled with their bunting and never got the big hit in the loss. John Carroll committed one error in the win.

Freshman #Chelsea Chaffin (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg)# scattered two runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out four but in the complete game but fell to 9-8. Brittany Danilov earned the win and improved to 12-9 after allowing just five hits and one walk to go along with 10 strikeouts.

John Carroll received all of the offense that it needed in the second inning when it scored an unearned run on a throwing error. The Blue Streaks added an insurance run with a solo home run by Samantha Thompson, who finished 2-for-3, to lead off the seventh.

Junior left fielder #Hope Cowoski (Perry/Perry)# and freshman designated hitter #Marissa McDaniel# both finished 2-for-3 for Marietta.

Chaffin faired much better in game two as she held the Blue Streaks to just one run on five hits in the victory, which improved her record to 10-8. Thompson (9-6)  suffered the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

John Carroll once again took the initial lead with a run in its first at-bat. Marietta's offense, however, got on track early in game two. Sophomore shortstop #MIchelle Sayre# connected on her school-record tying eighth home run, a three-run shot, in the bottom of the first frame. Freshman second baseman #Katie Swejk (Tallmadge/Tallmadge)#, who drew a lead off walk, and senior catcher #Katie Woolf (Louisville/Louisville)#, who had a one-out singles, scored on Sayre's home run.

The Pioneers extended their lead to 6-1 with a three-run fifth. Sayre drove in the first run with a single up the middle. Junior right fielder #Ashely Eberhardt# picked up the second RBI with a bunt single. McDaniel then came through with another single up the middle to drive the third run.

Woolf, Sayre and Eberhardt all had a pair of hits for Marietta, which had nine in the game. Olviia Matthews finished with two of John Carroll's five hits in the loss.

Marietta returns to action Tuesday (April 26) afternoon when it is scheduled to visit Mount Union College for an OAC doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. The Pioneers will then close out the regular season at home against Otterbein College on Saturday (May 1) at 1 p.m.
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