Seventh-inning rally dooms Lady Pioneers in 2-1 loss to rival Fighting Muskies in opener of OAC Softball Tournament
Muskingum scores two in the bottom of the seventh to steal victory

May 4, 2007
ADA, Ohio – The Marietta College softball team opened the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Softball Tournament with a heartbreaking loss to rival Muskingum College Friday (May 4) afternoon on the campus of Ohio Northern University. The third-seeded Lady Pioneers took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh, only for the Fighting Muskies to plate two runs in their last at-bat to steal the 2-1 victory.

With the victory, Muskingum (32-9) advances to the winner’s bracket game at 3 p.m. Marietta (30-9) will await the loser of the second game of the day, which features top-seeded Ohio Northern and fourth-seeded Capital. The elimination game will begin at 5 p.m.

The Pioneers, who out-hit the Fighting Muskies 5-3 in the game, broke a scoreless tie with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) led off with a single. Senior Jenny Carroll (Lisbon/Beaver Local) sacrificed her to second. Senior Lindsey Romick (Hannibal/River) followed with a ground ball to shortstop that was bobbled, putting runners on first and third with one out. After Romick stole second, sophomore Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire) drew a walk to load the bases. Sophomore Christina DeMoss (Bellville) then delivered a RBI single up the middle, plating McComb with the first run of the game. Romick, however, was thrown out at the plate as she tried to score from second base for the second out of the inning, and a ground ball ended the inning with Marietta scoring just a run.

Muskingum managed just one hit off Pioneer starter Kristen Quintana (Denver, Colo./Littleton) through six innings. The Muskies got some help in the seventh when Quintana intentionally walked Kari Hoying to lead off the frame. A sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner Mary Taylor to second base with one out. Taylor then moved to third on a wild pitch, before Heather Fields doubled down the left field line to drive her in with the tying run. Moments later, a single from Amy Iammarino drove in Fields to give Muskingum the 2-1 victory.

Quintana, who took the loss to fall to 19-6, allowed two runs on three hits, walked two and struck out three in 6 1/3 innings of work. Amy Mattin (16-5) earned the win, scattering one run one five hits while walking one and striking out six.

McComb and DeMoss both finished 2-for-3 in the loss.