MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team played their final home regular season contests of the season and was swept in a doubleheader by Denison University Tuesday (April 22) afternoon. The Pioneers stayed close in game one, 6-3, but were shut out with a score of 13-0 win in game two. Marietta falls to 17-11-1 overall. Denison improves to 21-10 on the season.
The Big Red got on the board first in game one as their starting pitcher, Brooke Surbaugh, blasted a shot over the scoreboard beyond the left center field fence in the second inning. The Pioneers were able to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning when Grace Elliot led off with an opposite field double and came around to score on
Jordan Cholley's (North Canton, Ohio/Glenoak) single.
Denison used the long ball to plate runs in the third and fourth innings. After Alex Longstreth was hit by a pitch to lead off the third, Annabelle Calderon blasted a two-out, two-run homer to right field to put the lead at 3-1. Jacqui Abogado's homer to straight-away center in the next inning pushed the lead to three runs.
Liz White (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) homered in the bottom of the fifth to cut into the Big Red advantage.
Denison added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings, including yet another home run, and led by four runs going into the bottom of the seventh. The Pioneers had runners at second and third with just one out when
Becca Streets (Buckeye Lake, Ohio/Hebron Lakewood) singled up the middle to plate a run. The rally halted though as the next two hits were retired and Denison claimed the 6-3 victory in game one.
Camryn Keifer (11-6) was tagged with the loss although pitching well, throwing 6.2 innings. She allowed six runs on seven hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.
Emma Cozza (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville Broadview Heights) retired the only batter she faced.
Surbaugh (9-7) notched the victory for Denison, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing two runs on five hits. Surbaugh walked two and struck out three. Madilyn Moffitt pitched out of a couple of jams to earn the save. She pitched 2.2 innings, giving up one runs and striking out three.
Grace Elliott (Akron, Ohio/Green) led with three hits in the game for the Pioneers.
Denison put together big innings to make quick work of the Pioneers in game two.
The Big Red scored five runs in the third inning, including a two-run home run from Moffitt to take control. They added three runs in the fourth and four runs in the fifth to seemingly put the game away. Facing an early end to the game,
Jordan Bradford (Wellington, Ohio/Black River) led off the fifth with a single, but was stranded and Denison claimed the 13-0 victory after five innings.
Candace Walters (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy) (1-1) got the start for Marietta and took the loss. She pitched two innings and gave up six runs, four unearned, on four hits. Cozza and Bradford struggled in relief, both pitching 1.1 innings apiece.
Aiyana Hancock (Marietta, Ohio/Warren Local) came in struck out the only batter she faced.
Sydney Silverstein (10-3) started in the circle for Denison and got the win. She pitched 5.0 innings and allowed no runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
Marietta will complete the rest of the season on the road. They will battle Heidelberg this Saturday (April 26) in an OAC doubleheader at 3 p.m. and then will make up a doubleheader with Mount Union the following day at 1 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.
