One last time: MC softball splits pair of games in season finale
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MARIETTA -- The Marietta College softball team closed out the 2024 season with a doubleheader split with Capital University Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers won game one, 9-7, and Capital took game two, 7-4 in nine innings.
Marietta finishes the season with a 16-19 overall record and 8-10 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.Capital finishes its season 15-15 overall and 7-11 in the OAC.
Capital jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first game. The Comets plated one run in the first inning and added two more in the top of the third. Emma Gant had a two-run double to drive in the Capital runs in the third inning.
Marietta answered with nine runs over the next three innings. The Pioneers loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning. Freshman Adisson Heath pinch hit and smacked a two-run single up the middle. Rachel Kazmirski tied the game with a sac fly later in the frame.
Kazmirski added a two-run double in the fifth capping a four-run inning for the Pioneers. It was Kazmirski's second double of the game giving her 19 for the season; a new Marietta College single season record.
Jillian Stecansky launched a two-run home run to center field in the bottom of the sixth extending the Marietta lead to 9-3.
Following a 72-minute lightning delay, Capital rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh inning to get within two runs, 9-7. Rory Littman had a two-run double in the Comet rally.
Candace Walters (2-3) got the win for Marietta. She pitched the final 2.2 innings and allowed four runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout. Jillian Middleton worked 2.2 innings and gave up two runs on one hot, while pitched 1.2 shutout innings giving up four hits.
Strecansky led the Pioneer offense going 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and two RBI. Kazmirski had a pair of doubles and three RBI. Camryn Campbell and Taylor Airy each had two hits in the game.
In game two, Capital scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning for the victory. Marietta trailed 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Leah Weber worked a two-out walk and Campbell reached on an infield single. Kazmirski followed with a single up the middle scoring Weber and sending the game into extra innings.
Both teams stranded a runner at second base in the eighth inning. Kyleigh Kirby led off the ninth with a single for the Comets. McKenzie Kennedy bunted her into scoring position. Following a fly out, Gant blooped a single into right field scoring Kirby with the go ahead run. Lyndi Hemmelgarn hit a two-run double to left giving the Comets a 9-4 lead.
Mlinaric (9-9) got the win relief of Bayles. Mlinaric worked 3.0 innings and allowed one run on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Bayles earned her first save of the season when she returned to the circle in the ninth. Bayles threw 6.0 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits.
Amelia Timko (4-4) took the loss. She threw 8.0 innings and allowed four runs, two earned, on 10 hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Airy had two doubles in the game for the Pioneers.