Jackets Go One and One Against the Grizzlies

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College softball team suffered an exhausting one-run loss in extra innings against Franklin in the first game of a doubleheader, before bouncing back to win by one run against the Grizzlies in game two. With the split, DC moves to 2-4 in conference competition.

The Jackets found themselves in a precarious situation as the first inning got underway, with the first-two Franklin batters reaching base safely, followed by an error which saw one runner score and two runners on base with no outs in the inning. However, DC's starting pitcher, Brittany Gow, gathered her composure, inducing a pop fly and a strike out by the next two batters, followed by an outstanding play on a line drive to left-center field by DC center fielder, Marah Robinson, to end the inning.

Defiance evened the score in the next inning, as Aarika Davis led off with a single up the middle, and eventually came around to score on a bases-loaded walk by Malory Faling. The Grizzlies were fortunate to get out of the inning having surrendered just one run, as the pitcher snagged a ground ball up the middle, leaving three runners stranded.

The third inning would see more offense from the Yellow Jackets, as Robinson and Gow reached safely to start the inning, setting up Kaycee Butt for an RBI up the middle to give DC the one-run lead. Elizabeth Huffman proceeded to smack a one-run sacrifice fly to left field to put the Jackets up, 4-2, at the end of the third.

Franklin cut into the lead with one run in the top of the fourth on a triple by Franklin's third baseman, but Malory Failing responded with an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the fourth, to reclaim DC's two-run advantage. Defiance was unable to close out the game however, as the Grizzlies posted two runs on three hits in the top of the seventh inning to push the game into extra innings.

In the eighth inning, Franklin found a run as Melanie Rausch knocked a single up the middle to bring the pinch runner in to score. Defiance was unable to respond, leaving a runner on base when an unfortunate double-play helped the Grizzlies escape with the victory.  

In the second contest, Defiance would strike first, as Tasha Stucke led off with a triple to jumpstart the Jackets' offense. Faling and Katie Miller would reach base to load the bases for Robinson, who singled to left field to bring Stucke in to score. Gow followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field, and Miller came around to score on an errant throw to give the Jackets a 3-0 lead.

Both teams would go scoreless over the next three frames, before DC's Katie Miller reached on a single to center field in the fifth, setting up Robinson for her second RBI of the game to give DC a four-run cushion.

The Grizzlies made things interesting in the top of the seventh, recording three runs on three hits, but DC's Katie Miller corralled a ground ball to end the inning and the game with one runner left on base.

Defiance gets a few days off, before returning to action on Wednesday, April  7, for a doubleheader against Ohio Northern. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.