AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Simmons softball (4-4) defeated Marietta College (3-5), 2-1, in a comeback win on Thursday afternoon.

It was a pitcher's duel in the early innings. First-year right-hander Emily Deleault escaped a Pioneer first inning threat unscathed, striking out Jess Brown before getting Jillian Middleton to fly out to center. Deleault settled down and kept Pioneer hitters off balance retiring 10 of the next 11 batters before running into trouble in the fifth.

Marietta pinch-hitter Katy Story reached on a two-base error in the top of the fifth, then scampered to up 60 feet on a passed ball. Two batters later, Shelby Metzger found an open hole through the left side to plate Story to put the Pioneers in front 1-0. But Deleault minimized the damage and got Camryn Campbell to ground out to third for the final out.

The Sharks were unable to string enough hits together in the home half of the frame to tie up the ballgame, but an inning later the offense came alive. Sophomore Raya Anderson and first-year Leah Connor worked back-to-back one-out walks to give the Sharks their biggest threat of the game, and they converted.

Anderson and Connor advanced into scoring position on a ground ball back to the pitcher, s first-year Abby Viggiano came on to pinch-run for Connor. Following a two-out walk to senior Shannon McMahon had the bases loaded for the first time all game and knocked Pioneer starter Amelia Timko from the game.

Facing a new pitcher, senior Maddie Castigliego stepped up to the plate and blooped a single to centerfield to bring Viggiano and Anderson home and gives Simmons the 2-1 advantage. It was plenty for Deleault to earn her first win of the season, shutting down the Pioneers in the top of the seventh.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS:

• First-year Emily Deleault picked up her first collegiate career victory, tossing a complete game allowing one unearned run on five hits, while striking out two.
• Senior Maddie Castigliego registered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the sixth, a two-run single into centerfield.  
• First-year Tegan Buckley, seniors Emma Thacher and Maddie Castigliego each had one hit in the game.

Up Next:
Simmons concludes The Spring Games, tomorrow March 10, with a non-conference game against Johnson & Wales (9 a.m.) and Edgewood College (11:30 a.m.).