Quakers upset Pioneers, 3-1, despite Quintana tying school record for strikeouts in a game
Marietta salvages a split with 9-0, five-inning win in nightcap

Apr. 4, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — On a cool, windy day at Marietta Field Tuesday (Apr. 4), the tenth-ranked Marietta College softball team split a doubleheader with visiting Wilmington. The Quakers shocked the Pioneers with a 3-1 victory in the opener, but MC bounced back with a 9-0, five-inning win in the nightcap.

As a result of the split, Marietta (21-3, 5-1 OAC) may have fell out of sole possession of first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference, depending on results of the other Conference games. The 21 victories is the second most wins for the Pioneers in its 27-year history. Marietta also won 21 games in 1995 and 1999. The Quakers, meanwhile, improved to 4-13 overall and 2-2 in league play.

Game one proved frustrating for the Pioneers, as they out hits the Quakers 7-to-5 and got a school record tying 15-strikeout performance from junior ace Kristen Quintana, but still lost the game 3-1. The 15 strikeouts ties Amie Weis' mark, set against Kean (N.J.) in 2004.

The Quakers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth, when they took advantage of a pair of Pioneer errors to score a run.

In the sixth, Wilmington was able to extend its lead to 3-0. Jena Suffel singled up the middle off Quintana with one out. Frances Spangler traded places with her following a fielder's choice and there were two outs in the inning. A Eva Stephens' two-strike single up the middle moved Spangler to third base. She then advanced to second on a passed ball, before Amanda Smith, Wilmington's pitcher, delivered a two-run single up the middle.

Marietta was able to get a run on the board in its half of the sixth, when right fielder Lindsey Romick led off with a double and scored on a RBI single by catcher Sue Schwamberger. The Pioneers, however, let too many good opportunities go to waste and left seven runner on base — six in scoring position — in the loss.

Quintana (12-2) took the loss, giving up just one earned run and not walking a batter. Smith (2-4) earned the win; she walked one and fanned two.

Romick finished 2-for-2 with a double and a triple, while Wilmington's Suffel went 2-for-3 in the win.

Marietta quickly put any doubt about it not winning the second game by scoring six runs over the first two innings. The Pioneers plated four runs on three hits and took advantage of three Quaker errors in the first frame. Shortstop Jenny Carroll, Romick, pitcher Christina DeMoss and Schwamberger all had RBIs in the inning.

In the second, DeMoss came through again with a two-run single to help her own cause and give MC the 6-0 advantage.

The Pioneers closed out the scoring in the fourth with three more runs. Schwamberger laid down a suicide squeeze to drive in second baseman Nikki Driscoll with the first run and designated hitter Stephanie Houston had a two-run single to score both DeMoss and Schwamberger.

DeMoss, who was coming off two less-than-stellar outings, dominated the Quakers in the nightcap. The right-hander allowed just one hit, a double by Smith in the second inning, and struck out two in the complete game victory to improve to 7-1 on the spring. Kellie Sanderson took the loss, giving up four runs (one earned) on three hits in 1.0 inning. Spangler relieved Sanderson to start the second and was tagged for five runs (three earned) on seven hits in the final three frames.

Marietta's right fielder Brandy Jacob finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while DeMoss went 2-for-2 with three RBI in the win.

The Pioneers will return to action Friday (Apr. 7) when the Ladies of Kenyon visit Marietta Field for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader.