Yellow Jackets Extend Winning Streak to Seven

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College softball team took care of business in its home opener against Div. II University of Findlay on Wednesday, March 17. The Jackets beat the Oilers 15-8 in the series opener, before using an extra inning to pull out a 4-3 victory in the second contest, and improve to 9-1 on the season.

The Oilers had the Jackets on their heels early, capitalizing on some early mistakes to take a 5-0 lead on five hits in the opening frame. Defiance would respond with some offense of its own in the second, with Marah Robinson and Brittany Gow reaching base safely to start the inning. Freshman second baseman Katie Miller proceeded to smack a two run double up the middle, and later came around to score on a Kaycee Butt RBI that cut the deficit to two going into the third.

Defiance put two more runs on the board in the third inning thanks to some patient hitting, as they drew three walks to load the bases for Miller. Miller came through in the clutch once again, with a single up the middle that drove in Robinson and Davis, and tied the game, 5-5, going into the fourth.

Findlay outscored the Jackets, 3-1, in the fourth to reclaim a two-run lead. However, Defiance would respond with a monster inning in the fifth, posting 10 runs on five hits to secure the victory. Robinson opened the flood gates with a leadoff single, and proceeded to beat out a fielder's choice to second, giving the Jackets two runners on with no outs. After a passed ball advanced the runners, Miller cracked a sacrifice fly, driving in Robinson to cut the deficit to one.

Faling and Butt followed with two base hits to keep the momentum going, and Katelyn Samples drove in a run to tie the game, 8-8, with just one out in the fifth. The Yellow Jackets continued to put runners on, and Miller came through again, bumping her RBI tally for the game to seven with a single up the middle. After Faling reached base on an error by the shortstop, Butt finished the game with an two run single that put the Jackets up by eight midway through the fifth, concluding the abbreviated victory.

After two scoreless frames by both teams to start the second contest, Findlay tacked on one run in the third, and another in the fourth to take the 2-0 advantage. Defiance cut the deficit to one point in the fifth inning as Tasha Stucke drove in Katelyn Samples for the Yellow Jackets' first point of the game.

Aubrie Ridinger came up big for the Jackets in the seventh, doubling down the left field line to move into scoring position with the game in the balance. Two batters later, Stucke drew a walk to clear the way for Marah Robinson, who responded by driving in Ridinger from second base to force the game into extra innings.

The Oilers produced one run in the top of the eighth to keep the pressure on the Jackets, but Defiance was up to the task, and had three runners on base with no outs when Kaycee Butt stepped up to the plate. Butt promptly singled to center, bringing Caitlin Rudden and Katie Miller around to score and finishing of the series sweep.

The Yellow Jackets will look to keep their momentum going on Saturday, March 20, when they host Albion College (3-5) in a doubleheader on "Take Your Dog to the Ballgame" day at Sal Hench Field. The Defiance County Humane Society, in cooperation with Defiance College, will have animals available for adoption and fans are encouraged to bring their dogs, along with pet supplies for donation. The first game is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.