WILMINGTON, Ohio — Marietta College took to the road and split an Ohio Athletic Conference softball doubleheader from Wilmington College Saturday (April 15) afternoon. The Pioneers lost the first game in five innings by the score of 12-4 and then posted a 13-9 win in the second game.
Marietta moves to 17-9 overall and 7-3 in the OAC. Wilmington goes to 11-15 on the season and 1-9 in the OAC.
The Quakers jumped out to a big 8-0 lead game one. Marietta starting pitcher
Jillian Middleton (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) gave up a two-run single to McKenna Archey to key a three-run first inning. Wilmington scored five more runs in the third inning to expand the lead to eight.
Marietta finally got on the board in the fifth inning as they broke out for four runs.
Jordan Cholley (North Canton, Ohio/Glenoak) scored on a wild pitch,
Katy Story (Billings, Mont./Skyview) singled and eventually scored on a Wilmington error, Michaela Bradley walked and scored on a
Shelby Metzger (Beavercreek Township, Ohio/Beavercreek) single, and
Taylor Watts (Galloway, Ohio/West Jefferson) scored on a ground out. Wilmington was able to retire the next two batters, though, and got out of trouble. The Quakers answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to claim the run-ruled victory.
Middleton (10-4) got the loss for the Pioneers. She gave up seven hits in 1.1 innings of work. She allowed seven runs and struck out one.
Amelia Timko (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) came on in relief and pitched a total of 1.2 innings, giving up three runs.
Breanna Zirkle (Pomeroy, Ohio/Meigs) closed the game and gave up two runs, one earned in 1.2 innings of work.
Marietta wasted no time getting on the board in game two. In the first inning, after loading the bases,
Jess Brown (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville) drove in a run with a walk,
Haylee Mott (Kinsman, Ohio/Badger) drove in two runs with a double, and
Taylor Airy (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) singled in two more runs to give the Pioneers a five-run lead. Wilmington delivered two runs in the bottom of the second when Mollie Moore double in a run off of Marietta's
Rachel Kazmirski (Colliers, W.Va./Brooke). Rachel Barry followed with an RBI single and the Quakers trailed 5-2 after three innings.
The fifth inning saw a bunch of offense as both teams posted a four-run inning. Kazmirski drove in two with a double to right center field and would eventually score on an error. Middleton would later score on an error to extend the leas to 12-4. The Quakers answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to four. Each team would add a run in the seventh inning and Marietta would claim the victory, 13-9.
Timko (3-1) got the start and earned the victory. She pitched 2.1 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits. Kazmirski worked 2.2 innings and gave up three runs on six hits, striking out three. Zirkle closed out the final two innings and gave up one unearned run on three hits.
Marietta hosts Muskingum Wednesday (April 19) afternoon. The OAC doubleheader starts at 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.
