MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College softball opened 2011 Ohio Athletic Conference play with a 9-3 and 5-2 sweep of visiting Wilmington College Saturday (March 25) afternoon at Marietta Field. [Game 1 Box Score] [Game 2 Box Score]

Marietta (10-5, 2-0 OAC) wasted little time jumping ahead in game one, as sophomore Michelle Sayre (Ripley, W.Va./Ripley), who on Thursday became the school's all-time home run leader, slugged a two-run bomb to right field in the bottom of the first.

Wilmington (9-5, 0-2 OAC) pulled back within a run on a bases loaded walk in the third. The Pioneers, however, broke the game open with a four-run fourth. Senior Hope Cowoski (Perry/Perry) drove in the first run when she reached on a bases-loaded fielder's choice. A second run crossed on a Quaker fielding error, before sophomore Marissa McDaniel belted a two-run double to center to put her squad ahead 6-1.

Wilmington inched closer with a two-run fifth, but back-to-back home runs by McDaniel and Sayre helped Marietta cruise to the 9-3 victory. The home runs were their second and sixth, respectively, on the year.

McDaniel, Sayre and senior Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon/Tuslaw) all finished 2-for-3 to lead the Pioneers' 11-hit attack. Elise Mariner had two of Wilmington's seven hits in the loss.

Sophomore Chelsea Chaffin (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) earned the victory to improve to 8-3. She scattered three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five in the complete-game effort.

Kylie Ford (5-3) took the loss after she was tagged for six runs (three earned) on six hits in three and two-thirds of an inning.

It was the Quakers that gained the early 2-0 advantage in game two as Caitilin Shilling hit a two-run double in the top of the third. The Pioneers, however, tied the game in their half of the frame. Sophomore Katie Swejk (Tallmadge/Tallmadge) had a RBI single, and freshman Michelle Kelley (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls) added a sacrifice fly.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the fifth. Marietta loaded the bases for McDaniel, who laced a RBI single through the right side. Sophomore Trayla Liles (Tollesboro, Ky./Lewis County) added a RBI two batters later when she reached on a fielder's choice, while Eberhardt followed with a RBI single to give the Pioneers the advantage for good, 5-2.

Junior Hazel Brogdon (Chugiak, Alaska/Chugiak) started game two and worked four and two-thirds innings. She scattered two runs and three walks while striking out one in the no decision. Chaffin (9-3) worked the final two and one-third to earn her second victory of the day. She allowed just one hit and fanned three. Danielle Monnier (4-2) suffered the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) on 10 hits in six innings.

Swejk, Kelley and Cowoski all finished with a pair of hits for Marietta, who out hit Wilmington 10-6. Stacy Lunsford had two hits for the Quakers.

Marietta is back in action at 1 p.m. Sunday (March 27) when the Pioneers visits Kenyon College for a non-conference doubleheader.