BETHANY, W.Va. — Marietta College softball bounced back from a 5-4, walkoff loss in the opener to earn a 3-2 win the nightcap and salvage a split with non-conference host Bethany (W.Va.) College Tuesday (April 6) afternoon. The Pioneers moved to 14-7, while the Bison improved to 11-7. [Game 1 Box Score] [Game 2 Box Score]

The Bison, who out hit the Pioneers 7-5 and made the only error, struck for three runs on four doubles in the first to take the early lead in the opener. Marietta plated four runs in the third to take its first lead of the day, 4-3. Junior left fielder Hope Cowoski (Perry, Perry) had a two-out, two-run single in the frame. Bethany tied the game at 4-4 with a solo home run. The game remained locked in a tie until the seventh when a Bison player doubled home the winning run with two outs in the inning to give her squad the 5-4, walkoff victory.

Junior Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va., Parkersburg South) took the loss to fall to 6-2. Strong allowed five runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out five in the complete-game effort.

Freshman second baseman Katie Swejk (Tallmadge, Tallmadge) collected multiple hits for the sixth time in the last seven games. She finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Freshman Chelsea Chaffin (Wheelersburg, Wheelersburg) earned the win after scattering two runs on eight hits in game two. Chaffin (7-4) walked three and struck out five in the victory.

Marietta out hit Bethany 11-8 and overcame three errors compared to two for the Bison in the night cap. Freshman designated hitter Marissa McDaniel (Pickerington, North) hit a two-run single to give the Pioneers a 2-0 advantage in the fourth. Senior catcher Katie Woolf (Louisville, Louisville) drove in Marietta's third run with a single in the fifth. The Bison plated a pair of runs in the seventh but Chaffin secured the win with a strikeout to end the rally and give the Pioneers the 3-2 win.

Freshman shortstop Michelle Sayre (Ripley, W.Va., Ripley) finished 3-for-4 with a run scored. Junior right fielder Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon, Tuslaw) and senior center fielder Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville, Lakewood Hebron) both added two hits in the win.

Marietta is back in action Saturday (April 10) afternoon when the Pioneers play host to # Ohio Northern University on fourth annual Community Day. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. The gates at Marietta Field open at 11 a.m., as students from the Sports Marketing class will begin handing out T-shirts and serving cotton candy. The students plan to start serving hot dogs and Pepsi around 12:30 p.m. Ice cream will be hand dipped into bowls around 2:30 p.m. Admission is free.