MARIETTA, Ohio — Following a 16-day layoff, the Marietta College softball team picked up where it left off sweeping a nonconference doubleheader from Wittenberg University on Senior Day Sunday (March 26) afternoon at Marietta Field. The Pioneers won their final two games in Florida and have now won four straight.
Marietta (7-5 overall) posted a 6-2 win over Wittenberg (2-15) in game one and then completed the sweep with a 13-3, five-inning, victory in game two. Prior to the first game, the Pioneers honored their six seniors;
Emily Callam (Greenville, Ind./Corydon Central),
Taylor Watts (Galloway, Ohio/West Jefferson),
Haylee Mott (Kinsman, Ohio/Badger),
Sarah Keating (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth),
Maddy Jones (Laurel, Md./Reservoir) and
Micaela Bradley (Greenup, Ill./Cumberland).
Wittenberg grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one. Briana Busic led off the game with a single up the middle. Julia Burch sacrificed bunted her to second and she stole third. Hanna Ecker dropped down a safety squeeze bunt scoring Busic.
The lead was short-lived as the Pioneers played two runs in the first and two more in the third.
Rachel Kazmirski (Colliers, W.Va./Brooke) unleashed a pair of two-run home runs driving in all four runs.
Shelby Metzger (Beavercreek Township, Ohio/Beavercreek) started the bottom of the first with a single and then came around to score when Kazmirski homered to right center.
In the third inning,
Camryn Campbell (Mansfield, Ohio/Lexington) singled up the middle. She later scored when Kazmirski hit a towering home run to center field.
The Pioneers increased their lead to 6-1 with a pair of insurance runs in the sixth. Mott led off with a single and was lifted for pinch runner
Jess Melvin (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis Desales). Marietta bunted Melvin over to second and then a dropped pop up in the infield gave MC runners at second and third. Melvin scored on a passed ball. Watts, who reached on the error, scored on a ground out by
Shelby Metzger (Beavercreek Township, Ohio/Beavercreek).
Wittenberg took advantage of a Pioneer error to plate a run in the seventh for the final 6-2 margin.
Kazmirski started in the circle for the Pioneers and worked 2.0 innings. She allowed one run on one hit and walked one.
Breanna Zirkle (Pomeroy, Ohio/Meigs) (2-0) took over and got the win after tossing 2.0 shutout innings of relief. She gave up three hits and struck out two.
Jillian Middleton (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) picked up her second save of the season pitching the final 3.0 innings. She was charged with one run on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Samantha Zungri (0-6) started and took the loss. She allowed four runs on five hits in 2.0 innings pitched. Lilly James allowed two unearned runs on four hits over the final 4.0 innings.
Kazmirski led the Pioneer offense with the pair of two-run home runs. Middleton and Campbell each had two hits as well.
Marietta scored early and often in the second game. The Pioneers had 15 hits in just four offensive innings. Game two started much like game one with Kazmirski blasting a two-run home run to right center for MC's first two runs.
The Pioneers went on to score five total runs in the first. Bradley had a two-run single, and Watts added an RBI double.
Six more runs in the second inning put the game out of reach. Middleton got things started with an RBI single through the left side of the infield.
Taylor Airy (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) delivered a two-run single to right, Bradley had a run-scoring single up the middle and Watts had another RBI double.
Marietta added two more in the third. Middleton doubled and later scored on a muffed throw at first base. Mott drove in the final run with an RBI double.
Kazmirski started game two in the circle and threw 1.2 innings. She was charged with one run on no hits with three walks and one strikeout.
Amelia Timko (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) (1-1) earned the win with 1.1 innings of shutout relief. She allowed no runs on two hits.
Jordan Cholley (North Canton, Ohio/Glenoak) worked the final 2.0 innings and gave up two runs on six hits.
Kira van Ravensberg (1-6) started and was tagged with the loss for Wittenberg. She allowed eight runs on 11 hits. Julia Hall worked 1.0 inning and gave up five runs on four hits.
Airy finished 3-for-3 with two RBI. Campbell, Middleton, Mott, and Watts had two hits each.
Marietta travels to Denison University for a doubleheader on Thursday (March 30). Game one is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch.
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.
