Late Rally Helps DC Complete Sweep of Husson

ORLANDO, Fla. – Defiance's offense was on display in a sweep of Husson University, as the Jackets scored a combined 17 runs in the twin bill to improve to 5-1 on the season, its best start during Jodie Holava's tenure. DC won the opener 9-0, behind the pitching of Justine Johnston, while exploding in the sixth inning to take the second game, 8-5.

Johnston tossed DC's third shutout of the season in the opening game of the doubleheader, holding the Eagles to just two hits to improve to 2-1 on the year. The senior hurler pitched all five innings, while recording a season-high seven strikeouts. Johnston would get plenty of help from the Defiance offense, as the Jackets scored three runs in each of the first three innings.

Mallory Faling wasted no time kicking off the fireworks, starting DC's scoring outburst with a solo shot in the first. Marah Robinson and Melanie Bushman each drew walks to follow Faling's blast, before moving in scoring position on a wild pitch. Robinson would score on a Kayla Crager single, while Bushman crossed the plate on a passed ball.

Defiance continued its hot hitting in the second, as Tasha Stucke drove in Stephanie Lieto with a single to push the lead to four. Katie Bowman would score on a passed ball one batter later, before Bushman's single plated Stucke to open up the floodgates.

Stucke drove in Amanda Auzins to record her second RBI of the day in the third, setting the stage for an encore by Faling. The sophomore catcher scored Stucke with a two-run homer, helping the Jackets run away with a 9-0 blowout.

The Defiance bats came to life in the sixth, igniting a six-run surge that tipped the scales in favor of the Jackets. Crager and Auzins laid the foundation for the dramatic comeback with back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Bowman followed that with a single up the middle to drive in Crager, before Faling's two-run single scored Auzins and Bowman to pull the Jackets within one, 5-4.

After Stucke scored on Robinson's fielder's choice to knot the contest at 5-5, Bushman would drive in the winning run with double in the gap. The senior first baseman scored pinch runner Katelyn Samples and Robinson to give Defiance its first lead of the game, 7-5. Aarika Davis helped DC add an insurance run, plating Bushman with a single to round out scoring for the day.

Schnipke picked up the win in relief, holding the Eagles to two runs in the final innings to move to 3-0 on the season. The Kalida, Ohio native gave up seven hits while fanning two. Johnston pitched the first two innings of the game, surrendering three runs on two hits and a walk.

Faling tallied two long balls and five RBI in the doubleheader on three-of-seven hitting. Stucke led the Jackets with four hits in the series to go along with her three RBI, while Bushman drove in three runs on two hits.

Defiance will take a day off, before resuming play at the Rebel Spring Games on Wednesday, March 11. The Jackets are set to play Thomas More at 3:00 p.m., while facing Benedictine at 5:00 p.m.