A few more innings like the third and Marietta High will be just fine this spring.
The Lady Tigers plated four in the bottom half of No. 3 but it was not enough as visiting Chillicothe claimed a 9-4 win in Southeastern Ohio Athletic League softball action at Phillips Field Friday.
"The girls played hard, and I'm proud of their effort," said MHS head coach John Doughty, whose orange and black nine dropped to 0-3 on the season. "They're learning every day, and we can only get better from here."
Kara Carpenter and Sarah Stalter each had a pair of hits and drove in a run to pace the Marietta offense. Lady Tiger hurler Maggie Harrison suffered the mound setback.
Chillicothe (2-0) was led by Karol Ojeda, who had three hits, including a triple and two RBIs. Paige Rinehart chipped in with two knocks, including a run-scoring double, and Marissa Webb stroked two singles. Righty Rylee Bouillion was credited with the win on the hill.
"It's something we've worked hard on, trying to find a balance between small ball and deep ball," said CHS coach Greg Phillips, whose Cavalier squad had 11 hits. "There are pitchers in this league that you can't tee off on, so we've got to be able to get our slappers and bunt game, and I thought we did an OK job of that tonight."
Fact Box
Chillicothe 9, Marietta 4
at Phillips Field
Chillicothe 201 123 0 - 9 11 2
Marietta 004 000 0 - 4 8 5
WP: Rylee Bouillion IP 7, BB 2, SO 4
LP: Maggie Harrison IP 7, BB 5, SO 2
Chillicothe (2-0) leading hitters: Marissa Webb 2-3, RBI; Karol Ojeda 3-4, triple, 2 RBI; Paige Rinehart 2-3 double, RBI
Marietta (0-3) leading hitters: Kara Carpenter 2-4, RBI; Sarah Stalter 2-4, RBI
Next game: Meigs at Marietta Saturday
Chillicothe staked itself to a 2-0 first-inning advantage with Bouillion doubling home one run and Ojeda plating another. In the top of the third, the Lady Cavs made it 3-0 on hits by Webb, Ojeda and Rinehart.
Leading off the bottom half of the third, Marietta's Bree Seevers singled to left. Next up, Alexa Miller was safe at first on a fielder's choice. One out later, Carpenter beat out a bunt, and Seevers legged it home to make it 3-1.
Miller then got thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice. But Stalter followed with a bunt hit, and Carpenter scored. Stopping at third was Kyrie Walsh, who then came into score the tying run on a Bouillion wild pitch.
The Lady Tigers took the lead 4-3 when Stalter scored on Andi Lincoln liner to second.
"The girls had a lot of fun and ran the bases well," Doughty said.
Chillicothe got an unearned run to tie the score in the fourth when Webb walked with the bases loaded.
The following inning, the Lady Cavaliers regained the advantage 6-4 on an RBI hit by Madison Glendening and a wild pitch.
In the sixth, Ojeda tripled and Rinehart doubled to plate one run apiece as the CHS lead bulged to five runs.
"Give Chillicothe credit," Doughty said. "They had some nice hits, especially there late to right field, which scored them some runs. But it was a close ballgame, 4-4 going into the fifth inning.
"Too many popups tonight, though. That killed us. When you're out in front of the ball, you're going to pop it up. That's what it looked like to me. We weren't staying back (in the batter's box). We're going to keep working and keep battling."
