Pioneers softball team splits a pair on Sunday
No. 11 Marietta improves to 28-8 with split against Kenyon

Apr. 23, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — The No. 11 Marietta College softball team took a break from its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) schedule to play a make-up doubleheader against Kenyon Sunday (Apr. 23) afternoon at Marietta Field. The Pioneers took game one, 2-0, but fell in the nightcap, 11-3.

Marietta improved to 28-8 overall, while Kenyon now stands at 15-17 on the year.

It was a combination of early offense and dominant pitching that led to Marietta's 2-0 victory in the opener. Freshman Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) accounted for both of the Pioneers' runs. She singled and scored on a RBI single by freshman Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire) in the first. McComb then walked and scored on RBI single by junior Jenny Carroll (Lisbon/Beaver Local).

The Ladies, meanwhile, managed just a pair of hits off Pioneer starter Kristen Quintana (Denver, Colo./Littleton), who improved to 16-4 on the year. The junior struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. She has now collected a school-record 179 strikeouts on the year, has a school-record eight shutouts and is one victory shy of tying the single-season record for wins.

Kenyon's Stephanie Hemmingson took the loss to fall to 10-7 on the year. She allowed two runs on five hits, walked five and struck out five.

Carroll led Marietta's offense with a 2-for-3 with one RBI performance.

Game two turned out to be all Kenyon, as it pounded out 14 hits en route to a five inning, 11-3, victory. It was the first time Marietta was run-ruled this season.

Freshman Christina DeMoss (Bellville/Clear Fork) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in 1.6 innings. Senior Stephanie Houston (Newark/Licking Valley) allowed five run on five hits in two innings, while freshman Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg) worked the final 1.3 innings without giving up a run.

Marietta's offense finished with nine hits in the loss. Sophomore Brandy Jacob (Wellington/Keystone), Carroll and Driscoll all went 2-for-3 in the game. Carroll added two RBI.

The Pioneers will remain out of Conference play Wednesday (Apr. 26), when they host Rio Grande for a doubleheader at 3:30 p.m., before finishing the regular season at home Saturday (Apr. 29) against Capital at 1 p.m.