The Muskingum softball team split its road doubleheader against OAC-foe Marietta on Wednesday evening. The Muskies won game one 7-4, before dropping the nightcap, 6-5. 

The Basics

Records: Muskingum (21-9 Overall, 8-4 OAC), Marietta (18-10 Overall, 8-4 OAC)

Location: Marietta Field – Marietta, Ohio

How it Happened – Game One

• Muskingum rallied in the top of the third, plating five runs off four hits.  Muskingum struck the scoreless contest off a Pioneer throwing error and then jumped ahead 2-0 off a Kalie Eshelman sacrifice fly. The Muskies strung together two more RBI singles through the left side from Taylor Stemmerding and Haley Hawk and capitalized on another Marietta throwing error to make it 5-0.
• Marietta cut the Muskie lead down to one after an RBI double smacked to left center and a three-run home run. Muskingum still held a 5-4 lead after five innings of play.
• In the seventh, with two outs, the Muskies added two insurance runs off a Cara Taylor triple to secure the 7-4 game one win.

Inside the Numbers – Game One

• Muskingum plated seven runs off 11 hits.
• Senior Hannah Smith earned the win in the circle after pitching 5.0 innings with five strikeouts. Smith improved to 13-2 on the season surrendering four runs on seven hits.
• Junior Madelyn Thomas came on in relief and pitched a total of 2.0 innings and only allowed one hit. Thomas struck out two and earned her second save of the season for the Muskies. 
• Freshman Cara Taylor led the Muskies at the plate finishing 3-for-4 with a triple, a run scored, and two RBIs.
• Freshman Taylor Stemmerding and senior Haley Hawk both notched three hits and an RBI.
• Senior Claire Guilliams and junior Kalie Eshelman both added an RBI to pace the Muskingum offense. 
• Senior Carlee Lamacz and junior Rosie Hayes each ended with a hit and run scored.
• Jillian Middleton led Marietta with three hits and an RBI.

 How it Happened – Game Two

• Marietta grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning off a solo home run.
• Muskingum plated three runs on two hits in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Cara Taylor tallied an RBI single, while Sarah Piteo plated a sacrifice fly, and Taylor Stemmerding drove in a run on a groundout.
• Marietta regained the lead in the fifth after plating three runs off four hits. The Pioneers started their rally off an RBI double to left center, and then plated the tying run off a single to center field. The Pioneers third and final run of the inning came off a groundout to make it 4-3.
• The Pioneers added their final runs of the game off a solo home run and a sacrifice fly making, 6-3 heading into the seventh.
• The top of the seventh saw the Muskies rally with two outs, scoring two runs off a Rosie Hayes RBI single down the right field line and a walk drawn by Taylor Stemmerding. With bases loaded, Muskingum was unable to plate the tying run, as Marietta secured a 6-5 victory.

Inside the Numbers – Game Two

• Muskingum scored five runs off six hits.
• Junior Madelyn Thomas was dealt the loss after tossing 4.0 innings of work. Thomas gave up four runs off seven hits.
• Hannah Smith pitched 2.0 innings of relief and allowed two runs off three hits. Smith also tallied three strikeouts.
• Claire Guilliams and Rosie Hayes each tallied two hits and two runs scored. Hayes also chipped in an RBI.
• Cara Taylor added a hit, run scored, and an RBI, while senior Sarah Piteo added an RBI.
• Jillian Middleton led Marietta with two hits and two RBIs. 

Up Next

Muskingum is back in action on Thursday, April 20, when they host the College of Wooster at Donna J. Newberry Field. Game one of the non-conference doubleheader is slated for a 3:30 PM start.