Marietta falls to rival Muskingum, 4-3, in OAC Softball Tournament title game
Lady Pioneers now await word on an at-large bid

May 5, 2007
ADA, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team dropped a 4-3 decision to rival Muskingum College Saturday (May 5) afternoon in the title game of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament, played on the campus of Ohio Northern.

With the win, the Fighting Muskies (33-8) won their 10th straight OAC Tournament title and secured the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Pioneers (32-10) have now finished runners-up three times, including each of the last two seasons. Marietta will now wait to hear if it receives an at-large bid to postseason play. The selections will be announced on Monday (May 7) morning.

Senior Kristen Quintana (Denver, Colo./Littleton), who threw her fourth game complete game in a two-day stretch, suffered the loss after allowing four runs one seven hits. In what may have been the final game of her stellar career, the right-hander, who is now 21-7 on the season, walked five and struck out seven.

Marietta, who collected eight hits, fell behind 1-0 when Mallory Hay hit a one-out home run in the first inning.

The Pioneers tied the game in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) led off with a triple. She scored on a single by sophomore Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire) with two outs.

A two-run double by Kim Tackett gave Muskingum a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Marietta rallied to tie the game, 3-3, in the top of the seventh. Junior Krista Huffman (Woodsfield/Monroe Central) drove in a run with a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded. McComb later singled home the second run of the inning.

Randi Dance drew a lead off walk for Muskingum in the bottom of the seventh. Kari Hoying followed with a single to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt advanced them to second and third. Heather Fields’ fielder’s choice then drove in the game-winning run.

McComb and Driscoll both had two hits in the loss. Tackett had a pair of hits in the win.

Amy Mattin allowed three runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out one to improve to 18-5 on the season.

Quintana as well as sophomores Christina DeMoss (Bellville/Clear Fork) and Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg) were named to the 2007 All-OAC Tournament Team for their efforts over the weekend.

Stay tuned Monday (May 7) morning for information on the NCAA Tournament.