Lady Pioneers pull off Sunday sweep of Ohio Northern

Apr. 10, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - The Marietta College softball team improved to 11-14 and, more importantly, 5-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) with a doubleheader sweep of Ohio Northern Sunday (Apr. 10) at Hadley Field. The Pioneers overcame an early 2-0 deficit to win the first game 3-2 and then completed the sweep with a 3-1 victory in the nightcap. The two losses dropped the Polar Bears to 10-16 overall and 1-7 in Conference play.

Ohio Northern opened the game with its first two runners reaching base. Its three-hitter laced a ball deep to left field, but Lindsey Romick (Hannibal/River) made the catch to rob the home run before falling over the fence. The Polar Bears scored on the sacrifice fly, but Kristen Quintana (Denver, CO/Littleton) retired the next to batters to end the threat. Ohio Northern added another run in the second to build a 2-0 advantage.

Marietta climb back within one run in the fourth, when Katie Moriarty (North Canton/Hoover) singled home Brandy Jacob (Wellington/Keystone). The Pioneers took the lead for good in the sixth when Moriarty delivered a two-run double to score Romick and Jacob.

Quintana, who allowed three hits in the first two innings, scattered just two over the final five frames to pick up her ninth win of the spring. Quintana (9-5) struck out five in the victory. Marie Mascari took the loss to fall to 2-5. She allowed three runs on four hits and fanned six.

The Lady Pioneers pounded out nine hits in game two, but it took a three-run home run by Romick in the third inning to get them on the scoreboard. The home run, Romick's third of the spring, gave MC a 3-0 lead.

Stephanie Houston (Newark/Licking Valley) scattered six hits and struck out three in the complete game victory. The junior gave up her only run in the fourth when Northern had back-to-back singles and scored on a throwing error. The win improved Houston's record to 2-3 on the year. Mascari suffered the loss, her second of the day, to fall to 2-6.

Abby Higbie (Anchorage, AK/Service) came off the bench to finish 2-for-3, while seven other Pioneers each had a hit in the win.

The Lady Pioneers will continue their busy last few weeks with a doubleheader against Bethany (WV) Monday (Apr. 11). First pitch at Hadley Field is slated for 3:30 p.m.