Pioneers spilt pair on Thursday at Rebel Spring Games
Marietta defeats Hunter 9-8 then falls to Trine 1-0

By Steve Rose, Assistant SID
March 12, 2009
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Marietta College softball team split a pair of games on Thursday (Mar. 12) morning, its fourth day of play at the 2009 Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. The Pioneers defeated Hunter (N.Y.), 9-8, behind some timely hitting then fell 1-0 to Trine (Ind.) in the nightcap. After Thursday’s play, the Pioneers’ record is 5-3. Hunter fell to 0-1, while Trine improved to 8-2.

Senior Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg) started off strong by striking out seven of the first nine batters she faced in the victory over Hunter. Faulkner (3-1) went all seven innings, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits with nine strikeouts and three walks.

Sophomore Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon/Tuslaw) put the Pioneers up 1-0 in the bottom of the third when she laced a ball into left center field for a double, which brought home senior Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) who singled earlier in the inning.

Hunter came back in the fourth to plate three runs and take the lead 3-1. Marietta responded in the bottom half of the inning with five runs to regain the lead 6-3.
McComb singled down the right field line with the bases loaded to drive in two runs. Sophomore Hope Cowoski (Perry) took advantage of a wild pitch and scored from third. Eberhardt then doubled off the left field fence to plate two more runs, giving the Pioneers the 6-3 lead after four frames. Hunter, however, came right back and scored five in the top of the fifth and regain the lead, 8-6.

Marietta scored one run in the bottom of the fifth after Cowoski was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Pioneers added two more in the bottom of the sixth when senior Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire) doubled over the head of the left fielder. The one-run lead held up and the Pioneers won 9-8.

Eberhardt finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI in the opener. McComb went 2-for-2 with two RBI, while Driscoll went 1-for-3 with two RBI.

In game two, freshman Megan Born (Delta/Pike-Delta-York) suffered her first loss of the season. Born (1-1) went six innings, allowing one run on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Unfortunately, her second walk of the day occurred with the bases loaded, which allowed the game’s only run to score in the sixth frame.

McComb and sophomore Nikki Stone (Madison) both went 2-for-3 in the loss. Stone and McComb accounted for four of the Pioneers’ five hits in the night cap.

The Pioneers conclude their Florida trip with two games on Friday (Mar. 13) afternoon. Marietta will face off against Transylvania (Ky.) at 11 a.m. and then play Thomas More (Ky.) at 3 p.m.