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KISSIMMEE, Florida -- The Marietta College softball team won a pair of games Thursday in the Florida sunshine. The Pioneers defeated Carlow University, 16-1 in five innings, and Thomas College, 4-2. Marietta improves to 3-4 on the season.
The Pioneers scored early and often against Carlow (1-6 overall) plating five runs in the first, two in the second, eight in the third and one more in the fourth.
Rachel Kazmirski finished with three hits, including a double, triple and four runs batted in. Jillian Middleton had two hits and three RBI. Grace Elliott had two hits and Jillian Strecansky drove in three runs with a three-run triple.
Marietta took advantage of two Carlow errors in the first inning resulting in four unearned runs. Middleton drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single. Kazmirski plated two runs in the second with a triple and then knocked in two more in the third with a single up the middle.
Middelton added two more RBi with a single in the third and then Strecansky delivered her three-run triple. Jordan Cholley plated a run in the third on a ground out and Jess Brown drove in the final run with an RBI double in the fourth.
Breanna Zirkle (1-0) started in the circle and got the win. She threw 3.0 innings and allowed one run on five hits. Candace Walter pitched the final 2.0 innings and gave up no runs on one hit.
After giving up a run to Thomas College (1-9 overall) in the bottom of the first inning in game two, Marietta scored four straight runs and then held on for the 4-2 victory.
Layla Pickering led off the first with a single to center field and was sacrificed into scoring position by Leah Knight. Following a foul out, Megan Oberholze walked. Jennie Whitten singled to left-center scoring Pickering for a 1-0 lead.
The Pioneers tied the game with a run in the second. Taylor Airley led off with a walk and after two sacrifice bunts, she was on third base with two outs. Cam Campbell singled to the shortstop scoring Airy.
Marietta took the lead in the fifth. Cholley led off with a single to left and was sacrificed over to second base by Campbell. Following a strikeout, Elliott plated Cholley with a single to left.
Brown singled and Middleton doubled to start the Pioneer sixth inning. Airy drove in both runners with a two-run single to right field for a 4-1 Marietta lead.
Thomas got a run in the bottom of the sixth, but went down in order in the seventh as the Pioneers secured the 4-2 victory.
Middelton (2-2) tossed the complete-game win working 7. Innings and allowing two runs on three hits. She walked four and struck out six. Oberholze (1-4) took the loss throwing 7.0 innings and allowing four runs on 10 hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Brown and Cholley had two hits apiece for the Pioneers. Kazmirski and Middleton each had a double.
Marietta plays Rowan University and Elms College on Friday. First pitch against Rowan is set for 9 a.m. with the Elms game following at 11:30 a.m.
BASEBALL
PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida -- For the second day in a row No. 24 Marietta College and No. 13 Misericordia played to a 2-1 final score. However, on Thursday the Etta Express came out on top improving to 4-5 on the season. The Cougars move to 6-5 on the season.
Just like in Wednesday's game, Misericordia grabbed the early lead scoring its lone run in the bottom of the first inning. Garrett McIlhenney singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two wild pitches allowed McIlhenney to come around and score.
Misericordia starting pitcher Joe Valenti cruised through the first four innings facing one batter over the minimum. The Pioneers finally got on the board in the top of the fifth. Ben Kaplin led off with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Shane Rothlisberger. Following a walk to Cole Yeager, Cooper Fiehrer singled to left-center scoring Kaplin.
Marietta took the lead in the sixth when Cael Magill led off with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt from Cole Rieman. Alex Richter grounded out but Magill was able to take third base on the play. Kaplin singled to the shortstop driving in Magill with the go ahead run.
Pioneer starter Trent Valentine (1-0) threw 6.0 strong innings for the win. He allowed the one run on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Kail Hill notched his first save of the season with 3.0 innings of shutout relief. Hill allowed two hits and struck out four.
The Cougars tried to rally in the ninth. Hill struck out the first two batters of the inning before surrendering a single up the middle to Joe Comins and a single to left from Brooks Kanwisher. But Hill recovered and struck out the next batter to preserve the win. Kaplin and Fiehrer each had two hits for the Pioneers. Kaplin had a double, scored one run and drive in Marietta's other run.
Valenti (2-1) took the loss for Misericordia. He worked 8.0 solid inning and allowed two runs on just six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Aidan Paduck pitched the ninth and walked one and struck out one.
Marietta plays No. 23 ranked Webster University Friday at 3 p.m.