DC Drops Final Two Games at Rebel Spring Games

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Defiance College softball team was unable to end its spring trip on a high note, dropping its final two games at the Rebel Spring Games. DC fell to NAIA opponent Marian in the opener by the score of 4-2, before losing 3-2 to Wittenberg.

The Jackets jumped ahead of Marian early in the opening contest of the doubleheader, grabbing a 1-0 advantage in the bottom half of the first inning. Tasha Stucke reached on a single to start off the inning for DC, before scoring the game's first run on Melanie Bushman's RBI single.

Justine Johnston held the Knights scoreless through the first four innings of the contest, surrendering just two hits in that time. However, Marian put together back-to-back two-run innings in the fifth and the sixth to open up a 4-1 advantage.

Defiance put its first two runners on in the sixth but was unable to capitalize, as the Knights escaped the inning unscathed. The Jackets started another rally in the seventh, behind Stephanie Lieto's leadoff single. The senior infielder would score two batters later on a two-out single by Stucke to cut the lead to two, 4-2. Stucke would be left stranded, as DC could not complete the comeback.

Wittenberg jumped on the board first in the nightcap, scoring twice off starter Kelly Schnipke in the second inning.

Defiance knotted the game at 2-2 with runs in consecutive innings. Aarika Davis plated Mallory Faling with a double in the fourth, before Faling drove in a run of her own  in the fifth with a RBI single that allowed Amanda Auzins to cross the plate.

Wittenberg pushed another run across in the bottom of the sixth, as a DC error allowed the game-winner. Johnston took the loss for the Jackets, despite giving up no hits in her two innings of work.

Defiance (6-4) returns to north face to NCAA Division II foe Findlay University on Wednesday, March 18. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. at Findlay's Riverside Park.