MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team split and Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader with Muskingum University Wednesday (April 19) afternoon. The Muskies won game one, 7-4, and the Pioneers took game two, 6-5.
Marietta moves to 18-10 overall and 8-4 in the OAC. Muskingum is 21-9 on the season and 8-4 in the OAC.
Aided by two Pioneer errors, the Muskies jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third inning of game one. Marietta cut the lead to one with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Camryn Campbell (Mansfield, Ohio/Lexington) reached on an infield single with one.
Rachel Kazmirski (Colliers, W.Va./Brooke) walked and then
Jillian Middleton (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) lined a double to the fence in left center scoring Campbell and moving Kazmirski to third.
Jess Brown (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville) followed with a home run to right center.
Muskingum scored a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. Haley Hawk and Claire Guilliams walked and came around to score on a triple from Cara Taylor.
Kazmirski started in the circle for the Pioneers and tossed 2.0 shutout innings.
Amelia Timko (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) (3-2) took over and was charged with five runs, two earned, on three hits in one-third of an inning for the loss.
Breanna Zirkle (Pomeroy, Ohio/Meigs) and Middleton both threw in relief.
Middleton went 3-for-4 with two doubles.
In game two, Marietta grabbed the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first on a solo home run from Middleton. Muskingum plated three runs in the third taking a 3-1 lead. Taylor had an RBI single, while Sarah Piteo plated a run with a sac fly and Taylor Stemmerding drove in a run on a groundout.
The Pioneers retook the lead with three in the fifth and added two more in the sixth. Kazmirski led off the fifth with a walk and Campbell reached on an infield single. Once again, Middelton delivered an RBI double to left scoring Kazmirski. Brown single to center scoring Campbell.
Shelby Metzger (Beavercreek Township, Ohio/Beavercreek) knocked in the third run on a groundout.
Kazmirski lined a solo home run to center field in the sixth. Campbell tripled and then Middleton and Brown were intentionally walked loading the bases with one out.
Haylee Mott (Kinsman, Ohio/Badger) hit a fly ball to deep center field allowing Campbell to tag and score on the sacrifice fly.
The Pioneers needed every one of those runs as the Muskies rallied for two runs in the seventh and had the bases loaded when the game ended.
Kazmirski made two appearances in the circle. She started the game and allowed two runs on two hits in 2.0 innings of work. Kazmirski returned to the circle in the seventh inning and got the save after getting a groundout to end the game. Zirkle (4-0) got the win throwing 4.2 innings and giving up three runs on four hits.
Madelyn Thomas (8-5) started and took the loss for Muskingum. She gave up four runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings. Hannah Smith threw 2.0 innings and allowed two runs on three hits.
Campbell, Middelton and Brown each had two hits in the game for the Pioneers.
Marietta will host John Carroll University on Friday (April 21). Game one is scheduled for a 3:00 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.
