Marietta softball splits doubleheader with Denison in 2008 home opener
Big Red take game one 5-3 and Lady Pioneers win game two 7-5

March 20, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College softball rallied for three runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning of the nightcap to secure a 7-5 victory and the doubleheader split with visiting Denison University Thursday (March 20) afternoon in the Pioneers' home opener at Marietta Field. The Big Red used a fast start to win the opener 5-3. The split moves the Pioneers' record to 8-4, while Denison is now 7-1 on the spring.

Marietta junior pitcher Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg) suffered the loss in game one after allowing five runs on eight hits in seven innings. She bounced back to get the win in the nightcap with 3 2/3 innings of strong relief. In game two, Faulkner, who improved to 5-2, scattered two runs (one earned) on five hits. She finished with two strikeouts and one walk on the day.

Denison plated a run on three hits in the top of the first inning and then added four runs on four hits in the second to take a 5-1 lead early in the first game. Marietta was able to match Denison's run in the first with a run of its own when junior Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) singled and scored from third on a pop out by sophomore Katie Wolfe (Louisville).

The Pioneers scored another run in the second when senior Krista Huffman (Woodsfield/Monroe Central) singled home Faulkner, who led off the frame with a single. Marietta added another run in the fourth. Senior Nikki Veigel (Canton/South) opened the inning with a walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Brandy Jacob (Wellington/Keystone) but that was all as Denison held on for the 5-3 win.

Bri Scrofano (4-0) earned the win by allowing three runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out one in seven innings.

Marietta's McComb, Wolfe and Huffman all had two hits in the game, as did Alex Murray, Ali Teopas and Brie Berkopec for Denison.

The Big Red also took a 1-0 lead in the second game, plating a run on three two hits off Pioneer freshman Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South). Marietta, however, came back with a four-run bottom of the frame to take its first lead of the day. Sophomore Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) had a big two-run single with two outs to score the third and fourth run.

Denison fought back to tie the game at 4-4 with two in the fourth, knocking out Strong, and one more in the fifth. The Big Red then took a 5-4 lead through 5 1/2 innings before the Pioneers regained the advantage for good with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Hope Cowowski (Perry) open with a bunt single and moved to second on a sacrifice by Huffman. Cowowski then advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI single by Jacob. A McComb double moved Jacob to third; McComb moved to second on the throw. Junior Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire) then delivered a safety squeeze to score Jacob and McComb later scored on a throwing error, giving Marietta the 7-5 lead. Faulkner overcame a two-out double to close the door on the two-run victory, which sent Denison to its first defeat of the season.

McComb led the offense, which finished with 11 hits game two. She went 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Jacob also added two hits and two runs scored in the win. Ali Silver, Berkopec, Murray and Sam Rumschlag all had two hits for the Big Red, who also had 11 hits in the game.

Strong, who did not get a decision, allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits, walked six and fanned one in 3 1/3 innings. Rumschlag (3-1) took the loss after giving up seven runs (two earned) on 11 hits in six innings. She walked one and struck out two.

Marietta is back in action on Tuesday (March 24) when it plays host to the College of Wooster in a 3:30 p.m. non conference doubleheader at Marietta Field.