ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Mount Union literally got some timely hitting and a strong pitching performance to beat Marietta 3-1 in five innings in the nightcap and get a split of an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader Wednesday in Alliance.

The second game of the doubleheader did not start until 6:30 pm after Marietta (7-5, 1-1 OAC) scored four runs in the top of the 10th to outlast Mount Union (9-11, 1-1 OAC) opener 8-4.

In the first game, the Purple Raiders were down 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning when a three-run rally tied the game.  

Kristen Gromes (Navarre/Fairless) was hit to open the frame, Marissa Earl (Massillon/Washington) reached on a fielders' choice then a pair of throwing errors would bring both around to score.  Amy Brown (Uniontown/Lake) then came up and tripled and was brought home on an RBI ground out from Shelby Carmichael (Dalton/Dalton) to tie the game.

The game was tied until the 10th when Marietta loaded the bases and the go-ahead run when Trayla Liles put a ball in play and was dropped at home plate.   

The Pioneers drove in three more runs on RBI singles from Katie Swejk, Sarah Mayo, Michelle Sayre to take an 8-4 lead.

After a leadoff double in the bottom of the 10th, Alexis O'Hair put down the Raiders in order for the win.

Rachel McAninch (West Jefferson/West Jefferson) pitched a complete game in the defeat.

In game two, both teams scored a run in the first inning and Mount Union took the lead in the third inning on a two-out, two-RBI double from Leigh Siedlak (Westerville/Westerville South).

Bre Willis (Navarre/Fairless) did the rest as she did not allow a hit over the next two innings before the game was called due to darkness. Willis allowed only three hits and struck out four to get the win.

Mount Union continues OAC play Saturday (Mar. 24) with a doubleheader at Muskingum at 1 pm.