LEESBURG, Florida — After a lengthy rain delay canceled the first game of the day, the Marietta College softball team finally got on the field and defeated Emerson College, 5-3, Thursday (March 10) evening. The Pioneers are now 4-4 overall, while the Lions are 3-2 on the season.
Emerson took advantage of five walks and a Pioneer error in the top of the first inning to grab an early 3-0 lead. The Lions loaded the bases and scored the first run on an error and then added two more on bases loaded walks.
Emerson starting pitcher Jessica Gomes blanked Marietta through the first three innings. The Pioneers got to Gomez in the fourth plating five runs in the frame.
Rachel Kazmirski (Colliers, W.Va./Brooke) led off with a double and
Taylor Watts (Galloway, Ohio/West Jefferson) followed with a walk. After a strikeout,
Jillian Middleton (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) drove in both runners with a double.
Liv Lauvray (Strasburg, Ohio/Strasburg) pinch ran for Middleton and moved to third on a single from
Kylie Daugherty (Newport, Ohio/Frontier), who quickly stole second.
Emma Burke (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) ripped a double scoring Lauvray and Daugherty and putting Marietta in front, 4-3. Burke was lifted for pinch runner
Jordan Cholley (North Canton, Ohio/Glenoak).
Anna Swierczewski (Natrona Heights, Pa./Saint Joseph) smacked the third double of the inning scoring Cholley for a 5-3 Pioneer lead.
With the lead in hand, Middleton (4-1) blanked Emerson over the final six inning for the win. She overcame nine walks and allowed three runs, two earned, on just two hits. Middleton struck out eight.
Gomez (2-1) pitched 4.0 innings and allowed five runs on six hits. She walked done and struck out seven. Karagan Knowles worked the final 3.0 innings and walked one and struck out five.
Kazmirski was the lone hitter in the game with two hits, a pair of doubles. Middleton and Burke each drove in two runs.
Marietta will wrap up the Florida portion of its schedule with two games on Friday (March 11). The Pioneers plays Marian University at 10:15 a.m. and Misericordia University at 5 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.
