Marietta College third baseman Jess Brown, who had a two-run homer in the fifth inning of game one, fields a Heidelberg University bunt and throws to first in the Pioneers' 12-4 setback. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

MARIETTA — Marietta College bounced back following a 12-4 Ohio Athletic Conference loss to Heidelberg University in game one on Community Day here Saturday to split a double header following a 9-0 five-inning mercy rule victory.

The Pioneers (15-18, 6-9) of head coach Jenn Castle, who conclude the regular season with another twinbill starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 5 when Capital University invades, received a three-hitter from Amelia Timko. En route to improving to 4-3, Timko didn’t walk a batter and struck out one.

The hosts broke open game two with a five-run fourth and chased losing pitcher Caitlin Dems (2-7).

Taylor Airy singled and stole second to get things going. Runners were on second and third following a single by Grace Elliott and an error by the Student Princes (13-25, 6-10).

MC finally dented the scoreboard when Shelby Metzger followed with a run-scoring single. After a double play, Leah Weber reached on an error and Metzger crossed to make it 2-0 on Camryn Campbell’s RBI single to center. Rachel Kazmirski, who went 3 for 4 in the opener, then delivered a three-run homer to left.

Marietta College’s Breanna Zirkle delivers during a game against Heidelberg Saturday at Marietta Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

The Pioneers were able to win via the mercy rule thanks to a four-run fifth. Kazmirski had a sacrifice fly and Jess Brown belted a three-run tater to left for the split as she capped a 4 for 4 effort.

Breanna Zirkle (5-6) was chased in the second inning of game one as the Student Princes scored one in the first and then tacked on six more. Jillian Middleton worked 5 2-3 innings of relief. She also allowed six runs, but only four were earned.

Gabbie Stallbaum scored to give the visitors an early 1-0 cushion in game one on Murissa Drown’s run-scoring double.

In the second, the Student Princess received a two-run double by Aubrey Conklin, a Stallbaum RBI single, a free pass RBI by Ellie Tressler as well as a run-batted-in via a Caitlynn Newlen single and a Jade Torres sacrifice fly.

Coach Castle’s squad managed to avoid a mercy rule setback after falling behind 10-0 entering the last of the fourth.

Marietta College catcher Liz White blocks a ball in the dirt during game one of Saturday's twinbill with Heidelberg University. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

HU was able to increase its lead when Morgan Woycitzky singled in the third, stole second and came home on Stallbaum’s two-run homer that barely cleared the fence in right-center.

In the fourth, Tressler launched a no-doubter just to the left of the scoreboard in center.

Middleton, who was replaced by Jordan Cholley, singled to start the fourth. Cholley scored on Airy’s two-bagger to left-center and it was 10-2 following an RBI knock by Zirkle.

The hosts cut the deficit to 10-4 after plating a pair in the fifth. Kazmirski’s single was followed by a Brown two-run round-tripper that scored pinch-runner Jillian Strecansky.

Jessica Voitko (4-12) worked 4 2-3 innings to earn the mound win for Heidelberg, which got a two-run single from Drown in the seventh and had Kaily Kroll throw the final 2 1-3 frames.

Marietta College players watch from the dugout during a game against Heidelberg Saturday at Marietta Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com