Lady Pioneers split twinbill with host Crusaders
No. 21 Marietta wins game one, 3-1, and drops nightcap, 2-1

Apr. 17, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The No. 21 Marietta College softball team continued its trek through the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) with a doubleheader at Capital University Tuesday (Apr. 17) afternoon. The Pioneers pulled out another dramatic victory in the opener, winning 3-1 behind back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning. The Crusaders then salvaged a split by plating a run in the bottom of the seventh to take game two, 2-1, at Clowson Field.

Just like in Monday's twinbill victories over No. 12 Mount Union, Marietta (21-7, 6-4 OAC) got two solid pitching performances against Capital.

Senior ace Kristen Quintana (Denver, Colo./Littleton) (14-4) worked all eight innings of the first game, allowing just one run on five hits while walking two and striking out nine. The right-hander, who appeared in her 101st career game, has now worked a record 542 2/3 innings in her career. She is now also one complete game and 36 strikeouts shy of those career marks.

Marietta took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, when junior Brandy Jacob (Wellington/Keystone) singled with one out, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) and scored on a single by senior Jenny Carroll (Lisbon/Beaver Local).

Capital tied the game with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Brittany Cloud had a RBI double with two outs to scoreSamantha Kennedy, who led off with a single.

The game remained tied after regulation, but the Pioneers opened the top of the eighth with back-to-back home runs by Carroll and senior Lindsey Romick (Hannibal/River) to take a 3-1 advantage. Quintana record three straight outs in the bottom of the eighth to seal the win.

Carroll (3-for-3) and Romick (3-for-4) led Marietta's offense, which finished with eight total hits. Carroll's home run gave her five on the season. Romick's home run was her fourth of the year and the ninth of her career and gave her a school record-tying 73 RBI for her career.

Kennedy collected two of Capital's five hits in the loss, which was handed to Brittany Stefano. Stefano (4-4) allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out five in eight innings.

The Crusaders took a 1-0 lead in the nightcap by plating a run when Lindsey Shepherd singled and scored on an error in the first inning.

Marietta tied the game on a RBI single by sophomore Christina DeMoss (Bellville/Clear Fork) in the second inning. Romick doubled to start the frame and scored on the DeMoss hit.

The score remained tied at 1-1 until the bottom of the seventh, when Capital scored an unearned run off DeMoss to win 2-1. Pinch hitter Maggie Stephenson and Shepherd both singled with two outs. Stephenson moved over to third when DeMoss' throw got away from the first baseman on Shepherd's infield single. After Shepherd stole second, Kennedy sent a ground ball to shortstop, which was bobbled and allowed Stephenson to cross the plate with the winning run.

Marietta out-hit Capital 9-8 but committed three errors in the game.

DeMoss (6-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits and striking out one in 6 2/3 innings. Erin Willeke got the win to improve to 9-4. She scattered one run on nine hits, walked two and fanned seven in the complete game victory.

Romick and sophomore Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire) both went 2-for-3 in the loss. The Crusaders' first three hitters all had a pair of hits in the win.

Marietta will look to bounce back from the tough loss Thursday (Apr. 19) when it welcomes Baldwin-Wallace to Marietta Field for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader. The meeting was originally slated for April 14th, but postponed due to rain.