UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at John Carroll University Saturday (April 20) afternoon. The Pioneers won game one, 14-3 in five innings. The Blue Streaks took game two, 10-2 in six innings. Marietta moves to 12-17 overall and 4-8 in the OAC, while John Carroll is now 3-20 overall and 2-8 in the OAC.
Jillian Strecansky (Columbiana, Ohio/South Range) staked the Pioneers to an early 4-0 lead when she launched her first career home run in the second inning of game one. The grand slam cleared the left field fence.
Grace Elliott (Akron, Ohio/Green) made it 5-0 when she knocked in
Camryn Campbell (Ontario, Ohio/Lexington) later in the inning.
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Liz White (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) three-run home run in the third inning pushed the Pioneer lead to 8-0. Campbell scored on a ground out from
Rachel Kazmirski (Colliers, W.Va./Brooke) in the fourth innings making it 9-0.
John Carroll got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Gabby Hougan drove in two runs with a double to left center.
Marietta answered with five more runs in the fifth. Heath smacked a two-run home run to center field. Two runs scored on an error and
Jillian Middleton (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) plated the final run with a double.
Breanna Zirkle (Pomeroy, Ohio/Meigs) (4-5) went the distance in the circle for the Pioneers giving up three runs on five hits. She walked two and struck out six.
Danielle Orendi (0-11) started and took the loss for John Carroll. She threw 2.1 innings and allowed eight runs, six earned, on seven hits. Casey Cash gave up six runs, two earned, on six hits in 2.2 innings of work.
Middleton went 4-for-4 with a double. Grace and White each had two hits in the game.
The Blue Streaks turned the tables in game two. JCU scored five runs in the second inning, added one in the fourth and then ended the game early with four runs in the sixth.
Marietta scored twice in the second inning. White drove in the first run with a single and then the Pioneers plated a run on a double steal.
Amelia Timko (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) (3-3) started and took the loss. She allowed five runs on six hits in 1.1 innings. Three other Pioneers pitched in the game.
Kristin Dems (2-6) got the win working 6.0 innings and giving up two runs on eight hits. She walked two and struck out two.
Jess Brown (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville) was 3-for-3 to lead the Pioneer offense. Middleton and White each had two hits in the game.
Marietta hosts Otterbein University on Thursday (April 25). The first game is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch.
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.
