MC softball splits with Heidelberg
Marietta College third baseman Jess Brown, who had a two-run homer in the fifth inning of game one, fields a Heidelberg University bunt and throws to first in the Pioneers' 12-4 setback. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
Marietta College’s Breanna Zirkle delivers during a game against Heidelberg Saturday at Marietta Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
Marietta College catcher Liz White blocks a ball in the dirt during game one of Saturday's twinbill with Heidelberg University. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
Marietta College players watch from the dugout during a game against Heidelberg Saturday at Marietta Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
Marietta College third baseman Jess Brown, who had a two-run homer in the fifth inning of game one, fields a Heidelberg University bunt and throws to first in the Pioneers' 12-4 setback. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
Marietta College’s Breanna Zirkle delivers during a game against Heidelberg Saturday at Marietta Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
Marietta College catcher Liz White blocks a ball in the dirt during game one of Saturday's twinbill with Heidelberg University. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
Marietta College players watch from the dugout during a game against Heidelberg Saturday at Marietta Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
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MARIETTA -- Marietta College bounced back following a 12-4 Ohio Athletic Conference loss to Heidelberg University in game one on Community Day here Saturday to split a double header following a 9-0 five-inning mercy rule victory.
The Pioneers (15-18, 6-9) of head coach Jenn Castle, who conclude the regular season with another twinbill starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 5 when Capital University invades, received a three-hitter from Amelia Timko. En route to improving to 4-3, Timko didn't walk a batter and struck out one.
The hosts broke open game two with a five-run fourth and chased losing pitcher Caitlin Dems (2-7).
Taylor Airy singled and stole second to get things going. Runners were on second and third following a single by Grace Elliott and an error by the Student Princes (13-25, 6-10).
MC finally dented the scoreboard when Shelby Metzger followed with a run-scoring single. After a double play, Leah Weber reached on an error and Metzger crossed to make it 2-0 on Camryn Campbell's RBI single to center. Rachel Kazmirski, who went 3 for 4 in the opener, then delivered a three-run homer to left.
The Pioneers were able to win via the mercy rule thanks to a four-run fifth. Kazmirski had a sacrifice fly and Jess Brown belted a three-run tater to left for the split as she capped a 4 for 4 effort.
Breanna Zirkle (5-6) was chased in the second inning of game one as the Student Princes scored one in the first and then tacked on six more. Jillian Middleton worked 5 2-3 innings of relief. She also allowed six runs, but only four were earned.
Gabbie Stallbaum scored to give the visitors an early 1-0 cushion in game one on Murissa Drown's run-scoring double.
In the second, the Student Princess received a two-run double by Aubrey Conklin, a Stallbaum RBI single, a free pass RBI by Ellie Tressler as well as a run-batted-in via a Caitlynn Newlen single and a Jade Torres sacrifice fly.
Coach Castle's squad managed to avoid a mercy rule setback after falling behind 10-0 entering the last of the fourth.
HU was able to increase its lead when Morgan Woycitzky singled in the third, stole second and came home on Stallbaum's two-run homer that barely cleared the fence in right-center.
In the fourth, Tressler launched a no-doubter just to the left of the scoreboard in center.
Middleton, who was replaced by Jordan Cholley, singled to start the fourth. Cholley scored on Airy's two-bagger to left-center and it was 10-2 following an RBI knock by Zirkle.
The hosts cut the deficit to 10-4 after plating a pair in the fifth. Kazmirski's single was followed by a Brown two-run round-tripper that scored pinch-runner Jillian Strecansky.
Jessica Voitko (4-12) worked 4 2-3 innings to earn the mound win for Heidelberg, which got a two-run single from Drown in the seventh and had Kaily Kroll throw the final 2 1-3 frames.
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com