KISSIMMEE, Fla. - It was another split for the Marietta College softball team Thursday (March 10) at the Rebel Spring Games. Carroll University blanked the Pioneers 2-0 and then Marietta bounced back to beat Bridgewater College 7-1 in the second game. The Pioneers are now 6-6 on the season.
Carroll (6-4 overall) scored twice in the top of the fifth to break a scoreless tie and that would be all the offense it needed. Three different Carroll pitchers combined on the shutout with Shelby Sommer (3-1) tossing the final 3.1 innings of hitless for the win.
Kristina LaRocca (Strasburg, Ohio/Strasburg Franklin) (1-1) went the distance in the circle for Marietta. She allowed just two hits and one earned run.
A Gartland led off the fifth for Carroll with a double to left field. She moved to third on a wild pitch and, following a walk to B Eckert, scored on a single from McCaughrean. Carroll then sacrificed both runner up one base and an error on the play allowed Eckert to score the second run.
Each team managed just two hits in the game.
Kaitlin Klinchock (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) and
Ariann Barile (Roaming Shores, Ohio/Jefferson) each went 1-for-3 for the Pioneers.
Against Bridgewater (3-5 overall), the Pioneers erupted for six runs in the top of the seventh inning to break open a 1-1 game.
Rachel Montgomery (Massillon, Ohio/Perry) and Kaitlin Pressley each had two-run doubles to spark the rally.
Jocelyn started in the circle for Marietta and worked 4.1 innings. She allowed one run on three hits and struck out two. Allison Kach (4-3) threw the final 2.2 innings for the win. Kach gave up just one hit and struck our five.
Bridgewater used three different pitchers in the game. Jessica Abramson (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on two hits in 2.1 innings of work.
Bridgewater took the early lead with a run in the first. Carlita Tibbs started the game with a walk. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double off the bat of Brianna Cox.
Marietta evened the score with a run in the fourth.
Brianna Finck (New Lexington, Ohio/Crooksville) singled and stole second. She was put out on a ground out by Klinchock but managed to stay alive in a rundown long enough for Klinchock to get to second. A wild pitch moved Klinchock to third. Barile knocked her home with a single to right field.
Barile finished 3-for-4 with a double, while Pressley collected two hits and two RBI. Montgomery also drove in two runs.
Marietta wraps up play in Florida on Friday (March 11) with a 1:30 p.m. game against Simpson College followed by a match up with Farmingdale State College at 3:45 p.m.
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.Â
