Lady Pioneers increase win streak to six games on final day of Rebel Spring Games
Marietta defeats Hiram and Manhattanville on Friday

March 14, 2008
By: Steve Rose, Assistant SID
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Marietta College softball team wrapped up its week at the Rebel Spring Games with its third two-game sweep in as may opportunities as the Pioneers defeated Hiram College, 6-0, in game one and Manhattanville, 6-1, in game two. The victories improve Marietta’s record to 7-3. Hiram falls to 4-6 and Manhattanville drops to 2-8.

Junior right-hander Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg) recorded her fourth straight win and her second complete-game shutout in game one. Faulkner (4-1) pitched all seven innings, giving up no runs on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

Marietta started strong offensively for the third straight game, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. Senior Brandy Jacob (Wellington/Keystone) reached on a walk and then junior Emily McComb (Gnadenhutten/Indian Valley) reached on an illegal pitch. Junior Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire) then sacrifice Jacob to third and McComb to second. Sophomore Katie Woolf (Louisville) followed with a blast over the shortstop for a double that would score two runs. Senior Nikki Veigel (Canton/Canton South) then drove in Woolf with a single and gave the Lady Pioneers a 3-0 lead.

Marietta scored another run in the top of the third. Driscoll started the inning with a single up the middle. Woolf then reached when a pitch struck her, moving Driscoll to second. Faulkner doubled to bring in Driscoll and put the score at 4-0.  Freshman Constance Whalen (Sharon, Pa.) pinch ran for Faulkner in the fifth and scored from second on a Hiram error to push the score to 5-0.

Senior Krista Huffman (Woodsfield/Monroe Central) led off the sixth with a single down the third base line. Jacob walked and then McComb singled to load the bases with no outs. Driscoll drove in Huffman with a fielder’s choice to push the lead to 6-0 after six innings.

McComb went 3-for-4 with three singles and one run scored. Huffman went 2-for-4 with two singles and one run scored. Woolf went 1-for-2 in game one with a double and two RBI. Driscoll, Faulkner and Veigel all added one RBI.

For game one, Marietta finished with six runs on nine hits and had one error. Hiram finished with no runs on six hits and one error.

Sophomore Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) started game two against Manhattanville Strong (3-0) threw a complete game, giving up one run on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Manhattanville took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the second. Marietta answered in the bottom of the frame by loading the bases with two outs. Jacob then drew a walk to bring home sophomore Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville/Lakewood Hebron) and tie the score at 1-1 after two innings.

In the third, Marietta added a run after freshman Sarah Gruner (Gibsonburg) hit a double to drive home fellow freshman Nikki Stone (Madison), who pinch ran for Woolf. Woolf singled earlier in the inning. Stone’s run made the score 2-1 after three.

In the fourth Marietta loaded the bases with no outs after Jacob singled while McComb and Driscoll both reached on errors. Woolf drew a walk to add another run for Marietta. After Veigel popped out to short, Gruner worked another walk, bringing in second run. Freshman Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon/Tuslaw) then doubled to right center, plating two more runs and making the score 6-1 after four.

Jacob, Gruner, Eberhardt and Daubenmire all went 2-for-3 in game two. Gruner and Eberhardt both had a double with two RBI. Jacob added a RBI, as did Woolf.

In game two, Marietta finished with six runs on 13 hits with no errors. Manhattanville finished with one run with three hits and had two errors.