Warren swung the bats with authority in an 11-2 triumph over host Marietta in a prep non-league softball game at Phillips Field Tuesday.
The Lady Warriors, who clinched a share of the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League title (with Jackson) last week, stroked 15 hits, including five doubles, one triple and one home run, off two MHS hurlers.
No Warren batter struck out.
Article Photos
RON JOHNSTON The Marietta Times
Warren’s Kendra Lynch squares to bunt against Marietta pitcher Lindsay Hiatt during first-inning softball action at Phillips Field Tuesday. The Lady Warriors won 11-2.
"Tonight we hit the ball real well," said first-year Warren skipper Rachelle Pallini, whose Lady Warriors improved their overall record to 19-3. "Yes, we can hit the ball.
"We're just trying to get ready for tournament, because we know we're going to have to hit when we get there."
Kendra Lynch led the hit parade with three hits, including a three-basehit in the fourth inning. Hannah Zimmerman, Riley Benson, Brandie Rogers, Arrianne Schetter, and Brandi Douglass each added two base-knocks.
Fact Box
Warren 11, Marietta 2
Warren 302 105 0 - 11 15 2
Marietta 100 001 0 - 2 7 5
WP: Taylor Dennis IP 7, BB 3, SO 3
LP: Lindsay Hiatt IP 3.1, BB 1
Hannah Lang IP 3.2, BB 1
Warren (19-3) hitting: Kendra Lynch 3-4, triple; Brandi Douglass 2-5, solo home run (6th inning, 3), 2 RBIs; Hannah Zimmerman 2-5, double, RBI; Riley Benson 2-3, double; Brandie Rogers 2-3, 2 RBIs; Arrianne Schetter 2-4, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs; Ally Spencer, double
Marietta (8-14) hitting: Maggie Harrison 2-3; Maddie Farrar 1-3, RBI; Alexa Miller 1-2, run; Kyrie Walsh 1-2, RBI; Alexis Beardmore 1-3; Kara Carpenter 1-4
Next game: Zanesville at Marietta today
Douglass drilled a solo shot, her third of the season, to left in the sixth to tie teammate Rogers for the team lead in that offensive category.
"I wasn't swinging for a home run at all," said Douglass, smiling. "She (Marietta pitcher Hannah Lang) pitched me outside on the first pitch, and I kind of knew it was coming in, so I was preparing for it - and I got it where I liked it."
Righty Taylor Dennis hurled a complete game, fanning three and walking three. She scattered seven Lady Tiger singles.
Marietta fell to 8-14 overall on the season, 6-6 in the East Central Ohio League. Last month, the Lady Tigers dropped a 9-1 decision at Warren.
"I thought we did better than the last time we played them," said first-year MHS head coach Stacy Fleming. "We knew Warren was going to hit. We just didn't play very good defense."
MHS committed five errors in the field.
Maggie Harrison was the only Marietta batter to have multiple hits, going 2-for-3. Maddie Farrar and Kyrie Walsh each drove in a run.
"At least, they (Warren) didn't mercy us," Fleming said. "Our girls fought and didn't quit."
Capitalizing on a misplayed popup in the opening inning, Warren staked itself to a 3-0 advantage. Zimmerman also had a run-scoring double.
Marietta got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame when Farrar singled home Kara Carpenter.
Warren stretched its lead to 5-1 in the third on Schetter's two-run double. In the fourth, Lynch tripled and legged it home on Douglass' single to left, making it 6-1. That Douglass hit also knocked Marietta starting pitcher Lindsay Hiatt out of the box as she was relieved by Lang.
Sparked by Douglass' blast, Warren batted around and roughed up Lang for five runs in the sixth. During the outburst, Rogers and Schetter each drove in two runs.
If Warren had retired Marietta without a run in the bottom of the sixth, it would have been a mercy win for the Lady Warriors. But the Lady Tigers battled, and Alexa Miller came around to score on Walsh's hit to extend the contest to the seventh frame.
"I think we could've executed our plays a little bit better," Pallini said. "We could always do better."
Marietta is scheduled to host Zanesville on Senior Night at 5 p.m. today. Earlier this season, the Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Blue Devils at Zanesville.
