DELAWARE, Ohio — Ohio Wesleyan University swept an incredibly close doubleheader from Marietta College Tuesday (March 22) afternoon. The Battling Bishops won game one, 2-1, and completed the sweep with a 5-4 win in game two that was called due to darkness.
Marietta falls to 6-8 overall. Ohio Wesleyan improves to 3-9 on the season.
In game one, both teams were having a tough time getting going. Ohio Wesleyan started their first inning with a single and a walk. After both runners advanced on a passed ball, the next three batters would be retired and the inning would remain scoreless
Marietta plated a run in the top half of the fifth inning.
Anna Swierczewski (Natrona Heights, Pa./Saint Joseph) led off with a single and advanced to second on a
Jillian Strecansky (Columbiana, Ohio/South Rangle) sacrifice bunt.
Taylor Watts' (Galloway, Ohio/West Jefferson) two out single put the Pioneers up. 1-0. Ohio Wesleyan was able to tie it up in the bottom half of the inning, Lauren Kunzler walked, advanced to second on a ground ball, stole third, and came home on a safety squeeze bunt by Alyssa Back.
The Bishops took the lead in the bottom of the sixth after leading off the inning with two consecutive singles. Sophia Hoover's long sacrifice fly scored the go ahead run. Ohio Wesleyan was able to keep Marietta off the board to claim the game one victory.
Jillian Middleton (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) (5-2) got the start and pitched six effective innings. She gave up two runs on four hits, striking out three but took the loss.
Katie Chittum (2-5) got the complete game win. She allowed one run on six hits. She walked one and struck out eight.
In the second game, Ohio Wesleyan scored in the second inning when Sophia Cegledy singled through the left side and scored off a Rylie Moore double. The Bishops scored an unearned run in the third and plated two in the fourth on a two run double by Allyssa Perkins, giving Ohio Wesleyan a four-run lead into the fifth inning.
The Pioneers had the top of the lineup up in the inning and finally got some offense rolling.
Rachel Kazmirski (Colliers, W.Va./Brooke) singled to center field and scored on a
Kylie Daugherty (Newport, Ohio/Frontier) triple. Middleton drove Daugherty home with a single. Swierczewski doubled to drive in a run and
Jess Brown (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville) traded places with her with a double and the game was tied at four.
In the bottom of the fifth, McKenna Tuttle led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Cegledy then singled through the left side, driving in the go ahead run. The game was then called because of darkness, giving Ohio Wesleyan the sweep.
Sarah Keating (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) got the start and worked 3.1 innings. She gave up three runs on four hits but was not involved in the decision.
Amelia Timko (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) (1-4) worked 1.1 innings and took the loss. She gave up two runs on three hits.
Chittum again got the start and worked four innings. She ran into some trouble in the fifth and was replaced by Sydney Good, who failed to retire either of the batters she faced. Allyssa Perkins came in and shut the door to earn the win.
Marietta begins conference play at Ohio Northern University on Saturday (March 26). First pitch for the OAC doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.
Fans can follow all of 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.
