MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College and Otterbein University split an Ohio Athletic Conference softball doubleheader Tuesday (April 2) afternoon at Marietta Field. The Cardinals took game one, 3-0, and the Pioneers won game two, 6-4.
Marietta moves to 14-10 on the season and 3-3 in the OAC. Otterbein is 11-9 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Otterbein's Gabby Johnson (7-6) tossed the complete game shutout giving up just two base hits in the first game. She walked seven and struck out eight Pioneers in 7.0 innings of work.
"Johnson threw a really good game for Otterbein in game one," Marietta head coach
Jenn Castle said. "We had some chances to score and did not capitalize on the opportunity. Airyanna came out throwing really well in game two and we did better hitting with runners in scoring position and was able to come out on top."
The Cardinals scored single runs in the first, second and fourth innings for the 3-0 victory. Anna Edwards delivered a two-out double in the first scoring Alyson Shaw with the game winning run. In the second inning it was Maria Herron who came through with the two-out base RBI single. Herron also drove in the final run in the fourth on a ground out.
Maddi Liston (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) (5-4) started in the circle and took the loss for Marietta. She threw 1.2 innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Liston walked two and struck out two.
Ashton Helmke (Defiance, Ohio/Tinora) gave up one run on four hits in 3.2 innings, while
Hannah Richardson (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central) threw the final 1.2 innings.
Kayla Alderson (Houston, Pa./Chartiers-Houston) and
Reagan Tom (Chandlersville, Ohio/Philo) had Marietta's two hits in the game. Tom's was a double.
The Pioneer bats woke up in game two as Marietta banged out 13 hits in the 6-4 win. Alderson and
Alyssa Cook (Akron, Ohio/Ellet) each finished with three hits, while Tom went 2-for-3 with a double. Cook drove in half of MC's six runs.
Freshman
Airyanna Maurer (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) (3-1) got the win. She started and worked 6.1 innings allowing four runs on seven hits. Maurer struck out five and did not walk an Otterbein hitter.
Jaclyn Mulvain (Warren, Ohio/Champion) notched her first save by getting the only batter she faced to hit into a game-ending double play.
Anna Edwards (4-3) started and took the loss for Otterbein. She threw 3.1 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout. Alex McComb gave up one run on three hits in 0.1 innings, while Johnson finished the game by striking ou five of the 10 batters she faced in 2.1 innings.
Kayla Queer staked Otterbein to a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a two-run home run over the leftfield fence. It was her first home run of the season.
Marietta tied the game with a two-out rally in the third. Cook ripped a single just inside the third base bag that scored Maicy Cook with the first run. Alderson followed with an RBI single up the middle.
The Pioneers grabbed the lead with four more runs in the fourth inning. Tom started the rally with a lead off double. Richardson smacked an RBI single to center.
Britnee Kail (Dover, Ohio/Dover) had an RBI double and Cook drove in two more with a single.
Marietta hosts Capital University Saturday (April 6) in the annual Community Day sponsored by Qdoba and Burger King. First pitch is scheduled for 1 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.
