KISSIMMEE, Florida — The Marietta College softball team won a pair of games Thursday (Mar. 7) afternoon in the Florida sunshine. The Pioneers defeated Carlow University, 16-1 in five innings, and Thomas College, 4-2. Marietta improves to 3-4 on the season.
The Pioneers scored early and often against Carlow (1-6 overall) plating five runs in the first, two in the second, eight in the third and one more in the fourth.
Rachel Kazmirski (Colliers, W.Va./Brooke) finished with three hits, including a double, triple and four runs batted in.
Jillian Middleton (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) had two hits and three RBI.
Grace Elliott (Akron, Ohio/Green) had two hits and
Jillian Strecansky (Columbiana, Ohio/South Range) drove in three runs with a three-run triple.
Marietta took advantage of two Carlow errors in the first inning resulting in four unearned runs. Middleton drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single. Kazmirski plated two runs in the second with a triple and then knocked in two more in the third with a single up the middle.
Middelton added two more RBi with a single in the third and then Strecansky delivered her three-run triple.
Jordan Cholley (North Canton, Ohio/Glenoak) plated a run in the third on a ground out and
Jess Brown (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville) drove in the final run with an RBI double in the fourth.
Breanna Zirkle (Pomeroy, Ohio/Meigs) (1-0) started in the circle and got the win. She threw 3.0 innings and allowed one run on five hits. Candace Walter pitched the final 2.0 innings and gave up no runs on one hit.
After giving up a run to Thomas College (1-9 overall) in the bottom of the first inning in game two, Marietta scored four straight runs and then held on for the 4-2 victory.
Layla Pickering led off the first with a single to center field and was sacrificed into scoring position by Leah Knight. Following a foul out, Megan Oberholze walked. Jennie Whitten singled to left-center scoring Pickering for a 1-0 lead.
The Pioneers tied the game with a run in the second. Taylor Airley led off with a walk and after two sacrifice bunts, she was on third base with two outs. Cam Campbell singled to the shortstop scoring Airy.
Marietta took the lead in the fifth. Cholley led off with a single to left and was sacrificed over to second base by Campbell. Following a strikeout, Elliott plated Cholley with a single to left.
Brown singled and Middleton doubled to start the Pioneer sixth inning. Airy drove in both runners with a two-run single to right field for a 4-1 Marietta lead.
Thomas got a run in the bottom of the sixth, but went down in order in the seventh as the Pioneers secured the 4-2 victory.
Middelton (2-2) tossed the complete-game win working 7. Innings and allowing two runs on three hits. She walked four and struck out six. Oberholze (1-4) took the loss throwing 7.0 innings and allowing four runs on 10 hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Brown and Cholley had two hits apiece for the Pioneers. Kazmirski and Middleton each had a double.
Marietta plays Rowan University and Elms College on Friday (Mar. 8). First pitch against Rowan is set for 9:00 a.m. with the Elms game following at 11:30 a.m.
Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram.
