Written by: Zachary Worstell (zdw001@marietta.edu)
Over spring break, the Marietta College Pioneers softball team competed in the Space Coast Spring Games in Florida. This kicked off their 2026 campaign and they finished 8-4. They’ll play their first game on their newly renovated field this Saturday March 21st. The game is a doubleheader vs Otterbein and is set to start at 1:00 p.m.
Last year the Lady Pios went 10-0 at the Space Coast Games and finished their season 20-15-1 overall. However, they failed to qualify for the OAC playoffs as they finished 6-10 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
Senior Aiyana Hancock got the start for their opening game versus the University of Wisconsin Superior. They last played the UWS YellowJackets in 1995 where they lost 4-3. This game was scoreless other than the 4th inning when three hits and a walk led to UWS scoring and winning 2-0.
Their second game came as another loss, this time versus Rensselaer Polytechnic. The Pioneer’s struggled on the mound as the lost 8-3.
The Pioneers got a fresh start on day two and started out with a game versus Monmouth College. The Pios won their previous two games vs the Fightin Scots and continued their streak with an 8-6 win. The Pios made a 6th inning comeback by scoring four runs off of two errors.
The next game was decided by one home run. Versus Nebraska Wesleyan University, whom the Pioneers beat last season 7-2, the Pios gave up a three run shot in the 4th. While Addison Heath responded with an RBI, that’s all the production Marietta got as they ultimately lost 5-1.
Heath kicked things off in the next game with an RBI double. Heath later scored herself as the Pios kicked off the 1st with a 4-0 lead over Lakeland University. This lead wasn’t long for the world as the LU Muskies scored five in the 3rd.
The Pios responded with a three-run 4th inning. However, were outdone by a six run Muskie fourth. While the Pios managed a comeback scoring four to the game, they came up just short losing 12-11.
Down 1-4 starting out was a stark contrast to last season. However, the Pioneers finished spring break with a seven-game winning streak. Although, these wins did not come easy.
First vs St. Mary’s College (IN), the Belles had the tying runs on base in the seventh with one out but left them stranded after two straight pop outs for a Marietta College 5-3 victory.
The following game went into extra innings as Marietta’s four-run 6th tied the game with Greenville University. In the 8th Greenville took the lead on a sac fly. However, two singles to right field led to two Pioneer runs for a 6-5 win.
Marietta swept Monmouth again this year as they cruised past the Fighting Scots in their second game with a season leading 17 hits for a 6-2 victory.
The game against St. Catherine University came down to the wire. The game was tied two all heading into the final inning. This is when pinch runner Erin Beeber stole home and won it for the Pioneers 3-2.
Facing Rivier University, sophomore Mallory Gorgacz was the highlight with her two RBI’s that resulted in a 3-0 Pioneer victory.
Marietta’s last two games in Florida ended with Mercy Rule. The first game against Grinnell College. Grinnell struck first with a two run double in the bottom of the 1st. Marietta responded likewise with Heath hitting a two run double in the third. A seven-run 4th sealed the victory, but the game didn’t end until Gorgacz scored in the fifth as the Pioneers won 10-2.
The second blowout was over St. Norbert College. The Pioneers offense came out early scoring eight in the 1st. St. Norbert tried to stay alive but were hit by the mercy in the 5th concluding the Florida trip with 12-4 win.
When asked about the trip, senior outfielder Camyrn Campbell stated, “It was a great learning experience, and we got better every game. We had fun while also staying focused on what we were there to do.”
The Pioneers will be home for the rest of the month every Saturday and Sunday. This Saturday they play Otterbein and then on Sunday they host Carnegie Mellon University. The following week they play Ohio Northern and Kenyon College. Be sure to purchase tickets at Online Ticketing – Marietta College Athletics and view the full Marietta College softball schedule at 2026 Softball Schedule – Marietta College Athletics.
