Written by: Zachary Worstell (zdw001@marietta.edu)
The Pioneers are 13-9 after their first month of play and look to capitalize on the rest of their schedule in April. The Pios are on the road to start out the new month with matchups versus Heidelberg on April 3rd and Muskingum on April 8th. The Pioneer’s next home game at the newly named Jeanne Arbuckle Field is versus Ohio Wesleyan on Thursday, April 9th.
Softball Community Day is coming up this month as well as the festivities kickoff on April 16th with Ballpark on the Mall and Pizza and Pios on April 17th at the Original Pizza Place. The Community Day game will take place on Saturday April 18th starting at noon.
During spring break, Marietta went to Florida and went 8-4 in the Space Coast Games. Their return to Ohio came on Saturday, March 21st, vs Otterbein University. In game one, the Pios choked a 4-2 lead in the sixth and lost 5-4. This loss could largely be attributed to their four fielding errors. The Pios also had four errors in the second game, however this time it did not inhibit them as they kept up and won 5-4.
The following day, the Pioneers hosted the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans. The Tartans gave starter Emma Cozza her first loss of the season as they mercy ruled the Pios in the 5th inning 16-6. A similar result was held in the second game as the Pios lost in five innings, 15-5.
After a brutal sweep against the Tartans, the Pioneers came back the following weekend and won three of four games. On Saturday versus the Ohio Northern Polar Bears, the Pioneers gave up 19 hits in a 14-5 loss in game one. However, in game two, the Pios had an electric third inning scoring five runs, which helped them to an 8-7 win.
Marietta swept Kenyon College on Sunday. In game one a two-run home run by Lauren Musgrove got the Pioneers the lead and the never let go. The home run in the fourth run was the first of her collegiate career. The Pios scored five more insurance runs in the 6th to secure the win 8-3. The Owls attempted a comeback in the 7th with their own three-run home run but added nothing else, giving the Pios an 8-6 win.
Game two was not as close as Kenyon gave up thirteen hits and nine runs in the first five innings as they were mercy ruled by Marietta 9-1.
Marietta’s final game of March came on Tuesday, March 31st, on the road versus Denison University. Marietta took the lead early before Denison came back to tie the game 4-4 in the 6th. Emilie Johnson drove in the game winning run in the 7th. Game two featured a pitching duel with each pitcher throwing a complete game. Three straight hits for Denison secured them the win in the 6th as the Pioneers lost 1-0.
The Pioneers are in action this Friday, April 3rd, on the road versus Heidelberg University. They split their last two series versus the Student Princes. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. You can watch live at Stream Marietta vs Heidelberg – DH – FloCollege
If you want to see the Pioneers in person, their next home game is on Thursday, April 9th at 3:00 pm. You can purchase tickets online at Softball vs. Ohio Wesleyan (DH) | marietta Box Office
Edited by: Rebecca Straits (rjs006@marietta.edu)
