Lady Pioneers stay alive in OAC Tournament race with sweep of Heidelberg
Faulkner pitches no-hitter in game one victory

April 19, 2008
TIFFIN, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team kept its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament hopes alive with a sweep of host Heidelberg College Saturday (April 19) afternoon. The Lady Pioneers won game one 8-0 and game two 9-3. The wins improved Marietta’s record to 17-11 overall and 7-7 in the OAC. Heidelberg dropped to 6-24 overall and 2-12 in the OAC.

Junior Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg) pitched a no-hitter for the Pioneers in the opener, going seven innings with six strikeouts and two walks. Faulkner (11-6) retired 21-of-23 Heidelberg batters. Freshman Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) won the nightcap, going all seven innings. Strong (6-3) gave up three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and a walk.

The Pioneers got on the board with two runs in the fourth. Freshman Sarah Gruner (Gibsonburg) doubled to right center to bring home both pinch runner Emily Mechling (Homer City Pa./Homer-Center) and Faulkner.

Marietta did most of its damage in the top of the seventh as it plated six runs on six hits. Krista Huffman (Woodsfield/Monroe Central) and Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) scored on a Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) double to center. Katie Woolf (Louisville) used a sacrifice fly to drive in Brandy Jacob (Wellington/Keystone) and make the score 5-0. Faulkner then brought in Daubenmire with a RBI single through the right side. Cassady Busellato (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) singled to right field to bring in two more runs and make the final score 8-0.

Busellato went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Pioneers in game one. Faulkner, Daubenmire and Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire) all had two hits and combined for three RBI in the win. Gruner also added two RBI for Marietta.

Marietta carried its momentum from the seventh inning into the first inning of game two, scoring four runs in the stanza. Daubenmire doubled to center to drive in McComb, who earlier stole second and third. Three straight walks brought in another run to make the score 2-0. Huffman then came up and singled down the right field line to drive in two more runs.

Heidelberg scored three runs on three hits and two Pioneer errors in the third. Marietta, however, came right back in the fourth with three more runs. Huffman scored on a McComb single. Faulkner then singled down the right field line to drive in Daubenmire and McComb.

Marietta plated its final two runs in the fifth when Jacob brought in two with a two-out single.

In game two, McComb finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI. Jacob, Faulkner and Huffman all added two RBI in in the win.

Marietta is back in action on Sunday (April 20) afternoon for a doubleheader with Kenyon College at 1 p.m. Sunday will be the second day of Marietta’s Community Weekend. Gates will open at 11 a.m.