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MARIETTA -- Marietta College (11-5, 2-0 OAC) stretched its winning streak to eight games with a doubleheader sweep of Ohio Northern (9-9, 0-2 OAC) on Sunday afternoon in Marietta. Rainy weather forced these games to move from Saturday to Sunday, but it was the Pioneers who stormed out to a good lead early on.
Jillian Middleton got the four-inning relief win, as she also helped contribute offensively in MC's 4-0 victory in Game 1. A single into left scored Camryn Campbell, as Marietta struck first in the fourth inning. Later in the inning, Taylor Airy collected her second hit of the game and drove in Jordan Cholley with an RBI back up the middle. Ohio Northern starter Ashley Lenser went all six innings in defeat, as those two runs scored in the fourth began a tough stretch for the ONU righty. Rachel Kazmirski, who started on the mound for the Pioneers with 1.2 innings logged, singled to center in the fifth inning to send Shelby Metzger home. Then, Haylee Mott delivered pinch-runner Jess Melvin around with an RBI double to make it 4-0. Those last insurance runs were more than enough, as MC's arms kept the Polar Bears at bay. In victory, Middleton struck out three and left plenty runners stranded in the process for her fifth win of the season. Also, Amelia Timko came in to collect four outs and a strikeout.
In Game 2, Middleton got another W on the mound, as she picked up Kazmirski in relief once more. This game was different from the first, as ONU jumped out to a 4-0 advantage after the top of the second. Allie Wilson got things going for the visitors with an RBI double of the wall in center to score Kaylie Griffin. Later in the frame, Hailey Fraser and Annika Murray notched back-to-back RBIs to give their side a 3-0 lead. One last run came in via an infield throwing error, as the high-octane Pios had their work cut out for them.
However, a four-run hole wasn't that deep for the home team.
Three tallies came across in the fourth, as the momentum shift got MC back in the ballgame. Middleton, Timko and Breanna Zirkle kept Ohio Northern in check through the rest of the afternoon, and that gave Marietta even more chances to come through with plenty of runs.
Right on cue, that happened.
A 2-run double by Jess Brown kickstarted her 5-RBI day, as Cholley and Kazmirski scored. Then, Mott slapped a shot into left for an RBI that scored Melvin. Middleton's winning line of three innings pitched and four punchouts paired well with what she did in the fifth inning at the plate. She drove Kazmirski in, and then, Brown continued to rake. a 2-run homer to right center made it a 6-4 Pioneer advantage.
It was a lead they didn't surrender.
The sixth inning was the team's most productive, as Kazmirski came to the box with to runners (Campell and Taylor Watts) aboard. A double roped into left scored Watts, and Campbell found her way to third. With teammates at the corners, Middleton took advantage of a dropped fly in center to reach safely. Campbell scored, as Marietta wasn't done. Brown's final RBI made it 9-4, and one more unearned run came across via a sacrifice fly by Airy.
Marietta College won't rest for long, as a Tuesday-afternoon doubleheader trip to Mount Union puts the team back in OAC action.
LEADERS
ONU: In Game 1, both Rosser and Wilson went 2 for 4 in the loss
MC: Game 1 saw a number of Pioneer standouts. Mott was 1 for 3 with an RBI double.
Campbell's 2-hit game came with a stolen base, while Watts also recorded a stolen base. Meanwhile, Airy, Middleton and Kazmirski all went 1 for 3 with an RBI.
ONU: In Game 2, early firepower saw Wilson and Griffin go 1 for 2 with a double and an RBI.
MC: Brown's 3-4 game with five runs battled in led the way, while Middleton's pair of RBI's also came in handy.
Kazmirski collect the most hits by going 4 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and Mott also delivered a multi-hit game by going 2 for 3 with an RBI of her own. Cholley and Jillian Strecansky each stole a base in the win.