MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team swept an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader from Capital University Saturday (April 2) afternoon. The Pioneers took game one, 9-1, in six innings and then completed the sweep with a 6-4 win in the second game.
Marietta walked-off both games improving to 8-10 overall and 2-2 in the OAC. Capital falls to 2-12 on the season and 1-3 in conference games.
Jess Brown (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville) delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to mercy the Comets in the first game. In the nightcap,
Rachel Kazmirski (Colliers, W.Va./Brooke) blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie.
The Pioneers plated five runs in the third inning to break open the first game. Kazmirski got things rolling with a two-run homer over the right field wall.
Jillian Middleton (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) singled and then
Emma Burke (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) smacked a two-run shot to right for a 4-0 Pioneer lead.
Hailey Maher (Galloway, Ohio/Central Crossing) drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI single.
Kazmirski had RBI singles in the fourth and fifth innings, while Maher launched a solo home run down the left field line in the fifth inning.
Middleton (6-4) went the distance in the circle for Marietta allowing one run on four hits. She walked four and struck out seven.
Brianna Shearer (1-5) took the loss for Capital. She worked 5.0 innings and was charged with nine runs, eight earned, on 15 hits. Shearer walked two and struck out two.
Kazmirski went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Maher was 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, while Middleton and Burke each had two hits.
Capital grabbed the early lead in the second game plating two runs in the first inning and chasing MC's starting pitcher, Kazmirski. Lexie Leggett drove in both runs with a two-run shot over the right field wall.
Marietta cut the lead in half when Brown reached on an error in the second inning and came around to score on a double from Maher. Burke tied the game with an RBI double in the third inning.
The Comets reclaimed the lead on a two-run single from Hannah St. Clair in the top of the sixth. The lead was short lived as Marietta answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
Anna Swierczewski (Natrona Heights, Pa./Saint Joseph) knocked in the first run with an RBI single and Middleton picked up the other RBI on a groundout.
With the game tied, 4-4,
Micaela Bradley (Greenup, Ill./Cumberland) walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh and quickly stole second base. Kazmirski followed with the walk-off home run.
Middleton (7-4) earned her second win of the day with 1.1 innings of shutout relief. She allowed one hits, walked one and struck out one. Kazmirski started and threw 0.1 inning allowing two runs on two hits.
Amelia Timko (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) worked 5.1 innings and gave up two runs on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Krislyn Bayles (0-3) went the distance for Capital and was charged with six runs on eight hits. She walked one and struck out two.
Kazmirski and Maher each had two hits for the Pioneers.
Marietta is back in action on Tuesday (April 5) when Otterbein University visits Marietta Field for an OAC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3:00 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.
