KISSIMMEE, Florida — The Marietta College softball team opened play in the Sunkissed Games with a pair of wins Sunday (Mar. 11) evening. The Pioneers defeated Eastern Connecticut State University by the score of 4-2 and then downed Skidmore College, 11-8, in game two.
Pioneer freshman third baseman Jordan Pallay smacked a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning propelling Marietta to its first win of the season. The home run was Pallay's first career round tripper and turned a 2-0 deficit into the 4-2 victory.
Eastern Connecticut (0-1 overall) scored twice in the third inning to take the early lead. Calli Duthrie reached on an error and then ECSU got back-to-back RBI doubles from Morgan Bolduc and Crysta Wolski
Bolduc started in the circle and blanked Marietta for six innings allowing the Pioneer hitters just three base hits. Bolduc retired the first batter in the top of the seventh before the MC rally started.
Lauren Rockocy (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) singled to centerfield and moved to second on a passed ball.
Reagan Tom (Chandlersville, Ohio/Philo) followed with a single to right moving Rockocy to third.
Alyssa Cook (Akron, Ohio/Ellet) grounded the ball to the second baseman but all hands were safe when the defender couldn't make the play.
That brought Pallay to the plate with bases loaded and one out. The rookie launched one over the fence down the right field line for the win.
Jackie Mulvain (1-0) went the diatnce in the circle for Marietta to get the win. She worked 7.0 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on eight hits. Mulvain walked one and struck out one.
Bolduc (0-1) threw 6.1 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits. Bloduc did not walk a batter and struck out one Pioneer.
Rockocy, Tom and Pallay each had two hits in the game for Marietta.
Marietta pounded out 18 hits in the win over Skidmore (0-2 overall). Seven different Pioneers had multiple hits in the game including Cook and Kayla Alderson, who each had three hits.
Rockocy, Pallay,
Mackenzie Marshall (Sardis, Ohio/River),
Erin Miller (Woodsfield, Ohio/Monroe Central) and Maddi Liston had two hits apiece. Marshall had a double and solo home run.
The Pioneers scored five runs in the first inning and built an 8-0 lead after three innings. Skidmore got its offense going and cut the MC lead to three, 8-5, after five innings.
Liston (1-3) got the win for Marietta. She threw 3.0 innings and gave up one run on three hits. Liston walked three and struck out one. Hannah Richardson was touched up for four runs on four hits in 1.0 inning of work. She walked one and struck out two.
Kara Stults tossed 1.1 innings and allowed three runs on one hit with two walks. Ashley Tschudy worked 1.2 shutout innings allowing one base hit and a pair of walks.
Emily Popp (0-1) started and took the loss for Skidmore. She threw 1.2 innings and gave up six runs on nine hits. She walked three. Amanda Carilli worked 5.1 innings and was charged with five runs, four earned, on nine hits. She walked one and struck out three.
Marietta is back in action with two games on Monday (Mar. 12). The Pioners play Centenary University at 9 a.m. and Haverford 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.
