VIERA, Florida — The Marietta College softball team split a pair of games Sunday (Mar. 8) at the Space Coast Soring Games. The Pioneers defeated Monmouth College, 8-6, and lost to Nebraska Wesleyan, 5-1. Marietta moves to 1-3 on the young season.
 
Defensive mistakes by Monmouth led to a pair of four-run innings for the Pioneers. Marietta took advantage of a dropped fly ball in left field to score its first run. Liz White (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) added a two-run single to center and Adisson Heath (Weston, W.Va./Lewis County) smacked an RBI double down the right field line for a 4-1 Pioneer lead.
 
The lead was short-lived as Monmouth plated four runs in the top of the third. Savannah Powers hit a two-run home run to left. Karliegh Ashby drove in a run with a single up the middle and Ella Cunningham was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. A bases loaded walk issued to Alexis Hardy in the fourth extended the Monmouth lead to 6-4.
 
Two Monmouth errors led to four Pioneers runs in the sixth giving Marietta the victory. With the bases loaded and no outs, Heath grounded to second, but the throw home got away allowing two runs to score. Becca Streets (Buckeye Lake, Ohio/Hebron Lakewood) plated a run with a ground out to short and Monmouth threw the ball away trying to get the runner at third allowing Kenzi Denzer (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) to score for an 8-6 Pioneer lead.
 
Emma Cozza (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville Broadview Heights) (1-0) got the win relief. She threw 2.0 innings and allowed no runs on one hit. Aiyana Hancock (Marietta, Ohio/Warren Local) started and worked 2.0 innings giving up two runs on four hits. Kylie Cobb (Oxford, Ohio/Talawanda) and Candace Walters (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy) also pitched in the game for the Pioneers.
 
Alyssa Hefflefinger (1-1) went the distance in the circle for Monmouth. She allowed eight runs, all unearned, on 11 hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
 
Grace Elliott (Akron, Ohio/Green) went 3-for-3 with two runs scored to lead Marietta's offensive attack. Camryn Campbell (Ontario, Ohio/Lexington), Katie Sweeney (Alexandria, N.H./Newfound Regional), and White each had two hits in the game.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan scored three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth for the 5-1 victory in the second game. Marietta's lone run came in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly from heath that allowed Campbell to score.
 
Eva Fahrnbruch (2-1) scattered three hits over 7.0 innings for the win. She allowed one run and struck out two.
 
Walters (0-2) started and took the loss. She gave up three runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout. Cobb worked 1.0 inning and allowed two unearned runs on one hit, while Hancock pitched the final 2.0 innings.
 
After a day off, Marietta plays Lakeland University and Saint Mary's College on Tuesday (Mar. 10). The Lakeland game starts at 12:15 p.m. followed by Saint Mary's at 2:30 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.