KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Senior
Alison Kach (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) tossed a complete-game shutout as Marietta College won its first game in Florida by the score of 2-0 over McDaniel College Sunday (March 12) morning. The Pioneers lost their second game of the day, 4-2, to Transylvania University.
Marietta is now 3-3 on the season. McDaniel falls to 3-2, while Transylvania improves to 2-3 on the young season.
Kach (1-0) scattered six hits and struck out five for her first win of the season. She walked one. Kach worked out of trouble several times to preserve the shutout.
Fellow senior
Kaitlin Klinchock (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) put Marietta in front 1-0 with an infield single in the top of the third.
Cierra Bloom (Dennison, Ohio/Claymont) led off with a base hit and stole second. Following a ground out, Klinchock singled deep in the hole at shortstop allowing Bloom to score all the way from second base.
McDaniel loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half of the inning. But Kach induced an inning-ending pop up to
Brey Mays (Bloomingdale, Ohio/Indian Creek) at first base.
Klinchocj delivered again in the fifth inning extended the Marietta lead to 2-0. Finck singled up the middle and Klinchock doubled down the leftfield line for her second RBI of the game.
McDaniel threatened again in the sixth inning with a one-out single and a double putting the tying runs in scoring position. Kach struck out the next two batters to end the rally before it began.
Klinchock finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Alyssa Cook (Akron, Ohio/Ellet) collected a pair of singles for the Pioneers.
Cassie Rickrode (1-2) started and took the loss for McDaniel. She worked 5.0 innings and gave up two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. Valerie Lamb threw 2.0 shutout innings of relief.
Transylvania broke a scoreless tie with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Marietta responded with two in the home half to grab the lead. But Transylvania took advantage of three Pioneer errors to plate three runs in the sixth and then held on for the win.
Trailing 1-0, Bloom doubled to start the Pioneer fifth.
Ali Prologo (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) worked a free pass and Finck reached on an error that allowed Bloom to come around and score and Prologo advanced to third. Finck quickly stole second and Klinchock plated Prologo with a ground out giving MC a 2-1 lead.
Three straight Marietta errors to start the sixth inning loaded the bases for Transy and chased starting pitcher
Jocelyn White (Gibsonia, Pa./Hampton).
Kristina LaRocca (Strasburg, Ohio/Strasburg Franklin) took over in the circle and got the first batter to pop up. But she beaned the next batter scoring the tying run. Lauren Willett followed with a two-run double making it 4-2.
Marietta loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth but couldn't get the two-out base hit. Klinchock doubled to start the seventh but was stranded at second base.
White (0-2) worked 5.1 innings in the loss. She allowed four runs, only one earned, on just three hits. White walked two and struck out one. LaRocca gave up one hit in 1.2 innings of relief.
Renae Morton (1-1) started and got the win for Transylvania. She tossed 5.2 shutout innings scattering four base hits. Morton walked four and struck out six.
Klinchock again led the Marietta offense going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Marietta is back in action on Monday (March 13) when the Pioneers play Carroll University at 11:15 a.m. and Illinois College at 1:30 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.
