Bethany Softball Splits with Marietta
March 22 – MARIETTA, Ohio – The Bethany College softball team split a pair of games in doubleheader action against Marietta College on Tuesday afternoon. Senior Marissa Bosley (New Martinsville, W. Va./Magnolia) hit a three-run homer to lead the Bison to a 4-3 win in the opener, while Bethany fell 5-1 in game two.
Bethany (5-9) got the offense rolling early in game one against the Pioneers (8-8).
Bosley began the second inning with a single to right field. Sophomore Jasmine Fuqua (Washington, Pa./Trinity) then doubled to center field, driving in Bosley for the first run of the game.
Sophomore pitcher Cassie Weiss (Washington, Pa./McGuffey) proceeded to strike out the side in the bottom of the inning. Weiss went the distance in the opener, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out 12 batters.
The Bison gave Weiss all the insurance she would need in the third inning, scoring three more runs on two hits. Seniors Kayla Kelly (Pasadena, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) and Deanna Mihalco (Patterson, N.Y./Brewster) got the rally going, setting up the stage for Bosley. The senior catcher did the rest, homering to center to give Bethany a 4-0 advantage.
Marietta responded in the bottom of the inning, stringing together four hits and scoring three runs to cut the Bison lead to one (4-3).
Weiss regrouped in the fourth and was untouchable for the remainder of the game. She allowed just two hits in the last four innings of her outing to help Bethany hold on for the 4-3 win.
Kelly and Bosley led the Bison offense, combining for five hits. Kelly reached base in all four of her at bats, finishing 3-for-3 at the plate and drawing a walk. Bosley collected two hits and scored twice, while Fuqua also picked up two hits.
In the second game, the Bison got on the board first with a run in the second inning. Mihalco and Bosley started the frame with consecutive singles before Sarah Coss (Bowie, Md./Bishop McNamara) advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Fuqua then reached on an error by the third basemen, scoring pinch runner Jazmine Keller (Glen Easton, W. Va./John Marshall) and giving Bethany a 1-0 lead.
Weiss once again started on the hill for Bethany, throwing two scoreless innings before running into some trouble in the third.
The Pioneers used six hits to score four runs, claiming a 4-1 lead over the Bison after three innings of play.
Sophomore Samantha Binkley (Ontario, Canada/St. James) came on in relief in the fourth inning. Binkley pitched well, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out three in three innings of work.
Bethany threatened again in the fourth inning, ultimately leaving three runners on base. Bosley picked up her second hit of the game while Coss and Ashley Narigon (Washington, Pa./McGuffey) followed with base knocks of their own. Marietta, however, escaped the inning without allowing any damage.
From that point on, the Bison bats were held in check as the Pioneers took game two, 5-1.
The Bethany College softball team will return to action when they host Muskingum University for a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 29. The opening game is slated for a 3:30 start time.
