Errors prove costly as Marietta swept by rival Muskingum
Muskies win key OAC twinbill 2-0 and 6-4

April 2, 2008
NEW CONCORD, Ohio — Marietta College's bid to upset Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) rival Muskingum College on Wednesday (April 2) afternoon did not go as planned, as the Fighting Muskies took advantage of costly Pioneer errors in both games to sweep the doubleheader, 2-0 and 6-4, at Muskingum Field. The Fighting Muskies, who have won 10 straight OAC Tournament titles, improved to 13-5 overall and 4-0 in the OAC. The Pioneers, who have fallen to the Muskies in the last two OAC Tournament championship games, fell to 12-6, 2-2 in league play.

Game one was a pitchers duel between Marietta junior Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg) and Muskingum junior Amy Mattin. Mattin shut out the Pioneers on four hits while walking one and striking out seven to improve to 7-3. Faulkner (7-3) held the Muskies off the scoreboard through the first five innings. In the sixth, Muskingum opened with a single and advanced the runner to second with a sacrifice. The next hitter singled to left. The ball got away from Marietta, allowing the first run of the game to score. The batter also moved to third when the relay was thrown away. Muskingum scored the final run when the next hitter delivered a sacrifice fly.

Faulkner was charged with two runs (one earned) on eight hits. She walked two and struck out three in the loss.

Muskingum jumped on freshman Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) for two runs in the first and two more (unearned) in the second to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the nightcap. Faulkner replaced Strong in the third and gave Marietta time to get back into the game by keeping Muskingum off the scoreboard for the next two frames.

The Pioneers plated two runs in the fourth. Sophomore Katie Woolf (Louisville) opened with a double. Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon/Tuslaw) then walked with two outs before Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) came through with a two-run double. Marietta added its third run of the game in the fifth. Junior Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) singled with one out and moved to third when Woolf singled with two outs. Junior Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire) then drove in McComb with a single to left center.

Muskingum got a two-run single from Heather Fields to extend its lead back to three runs, 6-3. Back-to-back doubles by Daubenmire and senior Krista Huffman (Woodsfield/Monroe Central) plated another run for Marietta but Mattin, who threw the first 3 2/3 innings of the game, returned to the mound and recorded the final five outs to secure her own victory.

Marietta out hit Muskingum 7-6 in the second game but had three errors compared to the Muskies' one. Daubenmire led the attack with a pair of doubles in three at-bats, while Woolf went 2-for-2 with two walks.

Strong (5-1) took the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts in two innings. Faulkner threw the last four innings and gave up two runs on four hits while walking one and fanning three. Mattin (8-3) got the win after scattering two runs on two hits in 5 1/3 innings. Heather Martin pitched the middle 1 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out two.

Marietta will look to bounce back on Saturday (April 5) when Ohio Northern visits Marietta Field for a 1 p.m. OAC doubleheader.