VIERA, Florida — The Marietta College softball team completed its spring trip with a perfect 10-0 record as the Pioneers defeated Monmouth College, 12-6, Friday (Mar. 14) morning. The Pioneers are off to the best start in program history.

"As a team we set a handful of goals to accomplish while in Florida. I can confidently say we met all of them," Marietta head coach Jenn Castle said. "I am very happy with our performance this week, but the key point is to carry over the things we did well in Florida back home for our next big weekend of games."
 
Monmouth (2-11 overall) grabbed the early lead scoring four runs in the top of the first inning chasing Pioneer starting pitcher Amelia Timko (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) from the circle after two-thirds of an inning.
 
The Pioneers got two runs back in the bottom of the inning. Liz White (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) led off with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. Grace Elliott (Akron, Ohio/Green) reached on an infield single that was not able to score White. Rachel Kazmirski (Colliers, W.Va./Brooke) followed with a single to center plating White and moving Elliott to third. Elliott later scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Scots pushed the lead back to four with a pair of runs in the second making it 6-2. The score would remain until the bottom of the fifth when Marietta exploded for eight runs and then added two more in the sixth.
 
Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out for the Pioneers in the fifth. Kazmirski reached on an error that scored Hailey Fordyce (Byesville, Ohio/Meadowbrook). Becca Streets (Buckeye Lake, Ohio/Hebron Lakewood) followed with a three run double to left center and then moved to third on a wild pitch.
 
Taylor Airy (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) singled to center scoring Streets. Adisson Heath (Weston, W.Va./Lewis County) was beaned. Fordyce singled to right scoring both runners. Later in the inning, Elliott drove in the final run with an infield single making it 10-6.
 
Streets and Airy walked to start the bottom of the sixth. Camryn Kiefer (Massillon, Ohio/Tuslaw) single to left loading the bases. A wild pitch scored Streets and a double from Mallory Gorgacz (Edinburg, Pa./Union Area) plated Airy with the final run of the game.
 
Kiefer (6-0) picked up the win in relief. She tossed the final 3.0 innings and allowed no runs on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Timko started and gave up four runs on three hits. Candace Walters (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy), Emilie Johnson (Lucasville, Ohio/Valley), and Aiyana Hancock (Marietta, Ohio/Warren Local) also pitched in relief for the Pioneers.
 
Alyssa Hefflefinger started in the circle for Monmouth and allowed seven runs, five earned, on four hits in 4.1 innings. Kayliegh Cobb (0-2) was tagged with the loss after throwing 0.2 innings and giving up three unearned runs on three hits. McKealey Klokkenga threw 1.0 inning and allowed two runs on two hits.
 
Elliott was the lone Pioneers with two hits in the game. She scored twice and drove in one run. Streets had a double, three RBI and two runs scored. White and Gorgacz each had a double.
 
Marietta hosts the BSN Sports Classic Saturday and Sunday (Mar. 22-23) at Marietta Field. There will be three games each day. The Pioneers play Penn State Behrend on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and Hiram College at 2:00 p.m. Penn State and Hiram play at 4:30 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 X and Instagram.