Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 KISSIMMEE, Florida - The Marietta College softball team once again split its doubleheader on Thursday (March 15), this time with a 6-5 victory over Austin (Tx.) College and a 9-7 loss to Millikin (Ill.). Marietta is now 5-3 overall on the year. Austin fell to 4-11 while Millikin improved to 4-5. [Austin Box Score] [Millikin Box Score]

Freshman Alexis O'Hair nabbed the win in game one for Marietta. O'Hair evened her overall record to 2-2 by going all seven innings allowing five runs, three earned, on 12 hits with a walk.

The Pioneers wasted no time getting on the board in game one. Two Austin errors contributed to the first Pioneer run of the day. Junior Michelle Sayre (Ripley, W.Va./Ripley) blasted a high drive to center, which the centerfielder lost, allowing freshman Sarah Mayo (Proctorville/Chesapeake) to score from second.

Austin responded in the bottom half of the first, plating four runs on four hits; two of which were scored on a Pioneer miscue. The Roos led 4-1 after one complete.

The Pioneers got one back in the third when freshman Brittany Curry (Newark/Licking Valley) used a long sacrifice fly to center to score Mayo from third making the score 4-2 in favor of Austin.

Marietta once again plated a single run in the fourth inning. Mayo continued her hot morning by slapping a single to left field, which scored Hannah Tarski (Independence/Independence) from third.

Marietta scored two runs in fifth and another in the sixth to lead 6-4 through five and half. Austin was able to get one back in the sixth, but was shut down by O'Hair in the seventh as Marietta held on for the 6-5 win.

Mayo finished the game leading the Pioneers offensively going 3-for-4 with a RBI. Sayre went 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs, while junior #Trayla Liles added an RBI in the win.

Marietta stranded nine baserunners in game one.

All was going well for Marietta through the first five innings of game two. The Pioneers plated a run in the first, but saw Millikin tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the second.

Starting pitcher Emily Estrich (Sylvania/Southview) started the inning with a single. Hannah Tarski (Independence/Independence) followed with a single, then junior Katie Swejk (Tallmadge/Tallmadge) drew a walk to load the bases. Mayo came up with another clutch single, scoring two for Marietta. Junior Marissa McDaniel then lined out to left, but Swejk tagged and scored on the play. Sayre drove in Mayo giving Marietta a 5-1 lead after two.

Millikin scored one in the fourth, but Marietta responded with one of its own with another Sayre RBI.

Tarski drove in another run in the fifth, giving Marietta a 7-2 lead through five.

Millikin's bats came alive in the sixth, as it would plate six runs in the frame on both Estrich and senior Hazel Brogdan. Millikin added one in the seventh to lead 9-7.

Marietta came up empty in its final two at bats as it fell 9-7. The Pioneers stranded 10 in the nightcap.

Sayre and Mayo again combined for the bulk of the Marietta hitting with two hits and two RBIs a piece. Estrich went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Swejk went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. McDaniel and Curry each plated an RBI in game two.

Marietta will return to action on Friday (Mar. 16) afternoon in its final day of play at the Rebel Srping Games. The Pioneers will play Washington (Md.) College at 1 p.m. then Rowan (N.J.) College at 3 p.m.