KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Marietta College softball team opened its 2019 campaign with a sweep of Washington College and Husson University at the spring games in Florida. The Pioneers opened the day with a 12-9 extra inning win over Washington, and earned a 12-11, walk off win against Husson in game two.
Head Coach
Jenn Castle said, "We were really happy with how our hitters came through in clutch situations today. We were swinging really well, and we fought back in both games."
Maddi Liston (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) started the opening game of the season in the circle for Marietta. Liston cruised through the first two innings of the game as she had a pair of strikeouts and only allowed one base runner.
Ashley Tschudy (New Philadelphia, Ohio/Indian Valley) opened the top of the third inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Alyssa Cook (Akron, Ohio/Ellet). The next batter up
Maicy Kirk (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) drove in Tschudy to put Marietta up 1-0.
Washington College answered with a three run bottom of the third inning and took a 3-1 advantage. The Pioneers cut into the Shoremen lead in the top of the fourth inning.
Kayla Alderson (Houston, Pa./Chartiers-Houston) got the inning started with a single to center, and was driven in by an
Ashton Helmke (Defiance, Ohio/Tinora) double to right centerfield, to make the score 3-2 in favor of the Shoremen.
After a scoreless fifth inning Marietta plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth and took a 4-3 lead. The sixth was started when
Lauren Rockocy (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) doubled over the left fielder and advanced to third on a passed ball. Helmke walked and put runners at the corners for pinch hitter
Hannah Richardson (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central) who delivered a sacrifice fly to right to score Rockocy. Cook provided the Pioneers the lead on a double down the left field line that plated Helmke, and Marietta entered the bottom of the sixth up 4-3.
Washington battled back to tie the game at 4-4 with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Airyanna Maurer (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) held the Shoreman scoreless in the bottom of the seventh and the game advanced to extra innings.
Marietta's offense exploded for eight runs in the top of the eighth, when Helmke singled to plate Rockocy who was placed at second due to international tie breaker rules. The Pioneers second run game on a single from Cook. After Marietta loaded the bases a ground out from
Erin Miller (Woodsfield, Ohio/Monroe Central) plated Tschudy and Cook and
Jordan Pallay (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) scored on a passed ball and wild pitch respectively. The final two Pioneers to score were Rockocy and Alderson as they scored when Helmke reached on an error.
Washington plated four runs in the bottom of the eight but Marietta won the game, 12-9. Maurer finished off her four innings of relief work for the Pioneers and earned the first win of her career.
Game two opened when the Eagles struck for a run in the first inning and tacked on two more in the second to take a 3-0 lead into the third. Helmke started the game in the circle and settled in in the third and fourth inning as she struck out the side in the fourth inning.
Marietta was able to take an 8-3 advantage with an eight run fourth inning. Rockocy led off the inning as she was hit by a pitch and Helmke followed with a single. The next batter up Tschudy reached on an error and plated Rockocy. Later in the inning an RBI single by Miller plated Tschudy.
Reagan Tom (Chandlersville, Ohio/Philo) and Alderson each drove in a run, but Helmke provided the big blow in her second at bat of the inning with a bases clearing double, to put the Pioneers up, 8-3.
Husson responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, but Marietta answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth. The Pioneers run provided by a double off the bat of Pallay.
A sixth run sixth inning from the Eagles spotted them an 11-9 edge, but once again Marietta responded in the bottom half of the inning. The first run of the inning was scored by a single from Cook. Later in the sixth with the bases loaded, Pallay was hit by a pitch, which plated
Britnee Kail (Dover, Ohio/Dover) to tie the game at 11 runs apiece.
The Pioneers walked off in the seventh when Kail singled through the left side to drive Rockocy, who had walked to get the inning started. Marietta won the game, 12-11.
"We have two tough opponents tomorrow and we need to come ready to play again," concluded Coach Castle.
The Pioneers will return to action Monday (March 11) when they battle with Beloit College and Haverford College, with game one scheduled for 9:45 a.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.
