Marietta posts two shutout victories on day three of Rebel Spring Games
Lady Pioneers defeat No. 15 Coe 1-0 and SUNY-Oneonta 9-0

March 11, 2008
By: Steve Rose, Assistant SID
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Marietta College softball team earned two more victories on Tuesday (March 11) morning at the Rebel Spring Games. The Pioneers began the day by defeating No. 15 Coe (Iowa), 1-0, and then topped SUNY-Oneonta (N.Y.) 9-0 in six innings. The wins improve Marietta’s record to 3-3 on the young season.

Junior Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) led of the bottom of the fourth with a walk. Junior Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire), who was making her first start of the season, then came up with a sacrifice bunt to move McComb over to second. A wild pitch allowed McComb to advance to third. Sophomore Katie Woolf (Louisville) then singled to give junior Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg) all she would need to fend off the Kohawks. Senior Brandy Jacob (Wellington/Keystone) had two singles and finished 2-for-3 in the win.

Faulkner (2-1) pitched a complete game shutout, giving up only four hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Faulkner was in trouble only twice during the game. Coe (6-5) was threatening in the top of the seventh with runners on second and third with only one out. A runner interference call erased what would be the tying run. Instead, Coe had runners on first and third with two outs. Faulkner then struck out the next batter to seal the victory for the Lady Pioneers.

Marietta finished with one run on three hits with no errors. Coe finished the game with no runs on four hits and no errors. Coe left five runners on base, while Marietta only stranded two.

In game two, Marietta jumped on Oneonta State (3-2) with five runs in the fourth inning. Freshman Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon/Tuslaw) led off the fourth by homering over the left field wall. It was the first home run of her career. After the Eberhardt homer, Woolf singled, followed by Nikki Veigel (Canton/Canton South) reaching on an error and then Sarah Gruner (Gibsonburg) hit a single to load the bases with no outs. Freshman Cassadey Busellato (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) drove in Woolf with a sacrifice fly. Senior Krista Huffman (Woodsfield/Monroe Central) then doubled, bringing in Veigel. Jacob followed with another single that scored two more runs for the Pioneers.

Marietta would add four more runs in the sixth and that would prove to be more than enough for freshman pitcher Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South). Strong (1-0) pitched all six innings, giving up no runs on two hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. Marietta went on to mercy-rule Oneonta State, 9-0, in six innings.

Woolf, Jacob and Eberhardt all went 2-for-4 and the trio combined for five RBI.

Marietta finished with nine runs on 10 hits with one error. Oneonta State finished with no runs on two hits and had three errors. Marietta left eight runners on base, while Oneonta State stranded two.

Marietta will have a full day of rest before it hits the diamond again on Thursday (Mar. 13) morning. The Lady Pioneers will face Lake Forest (Ill.) at 11 a.m. and then Cortland State (N.Y.) at 3 p.m.