Schnipke’s Second-Straight Shutout Lifts DC Past Waynesburg

ORLANDO, Fla. – Kelly Schnipke threw her second-straight shutout to lead Defiance to a 4-0 victory over Waynesburg at the Rebel Spring Games, helping the Jackets improve to 3-1 on the season. DC dropped the opening game of the day, as its comeback bid fell short in a 6-4 loss to Mount Union.

Schnipke, who shut out Centre on Friday, went the distance in the final game of the day to earn her second victory of the season, holding Waynesburg to six hits while striking out 10 and issuing no free passes. The sophomore hurler was backed by a great defensive effort, as the Jackets committed no errors in the game.

DC's impressive defensive performance was helped with timely hitting to record the win. The Jackets capitalized on each opportunity, turning each one of its four hits into a run.

 Defiance took advantage of an error to start the inning, as Stephanie Lieto advanced to third on the mishap to jumpstart DC's three-run third. Katie Bowman's sacrifice hit scored Lieto to break a scoreless tie. Mallory Faling would go on to hit a two-out single to set the table for Marah Robinson, who drove in the sophomore catcher with a triple. Robinson would also score, touching the plate on a passed ball to put the Jackets in front 3-0. Defiance added an insurance run in the fourth, as Aarika Davis scored on a single by Lieto to round out the scoring on the afternoon.

In the opener, DC could not overcome Mount Union's five-run second inning, falling for the first time this season. The Jackets opened up scoring in the game with a run in the first inning, as Melanie Bushman's two-out single scored Faling to give DC an early 1-0 advantage.

Defiance, who only surrendered one run in its first two contests, gave up its first big inning this season, as DC gave up five runs in the bottom half of the second.

The Jackets would respond with a run in the top of the third inning to draw within three, 5-2, as Davis singled to center field to score Robinson. However, Mount Union would an insurance run in the bottom half of the fourth to take a commanding 6-2 lead.

Defiance rallied in the sixth to close the gap, as pinch hitter Kayla Crager, started the inning off with a triple down the right field line. Crager crossed the plate one out later, scoring on Lieto's single up the middle. Tasha Stucke drove in Lieto with a two-out single, helping DC cut the lead to two, 6-4. The Jackets were unable to get anything going in the top of the seventh, as their rally over the final two innings fell short.

Defiance racked up 10 hits in the game, but left seven runners stranded in the game. Bushman and Lieto each had a pair of hits to lead the Jackets.  Justine Johnston took the loss for DC, giving up all six runs on ten hits and three walks.

Defiance returns to action on Monday, March 9, when it faces Husson University in a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.