Jackets Keep Tourney Hopes Alive with Split at Rose-Hulman

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Defiance College softball team kept its postseason hopes alive by splitting a doubleheader with Rose-Hulman on Tuesday evening. The Jackets lost a defensive showdown, 1-0, in game one, before turning around to blast the Fightin' Engineers, 8-0, in the nightcap.

DC's Kelly Schnipke pitched a fine game in the first contest, limiting the HCAC's third-ranked offense to just one run on seven hits. However, Rose-Hulman's ace, Jordan Goslee, pitched a gem as well, holding the Jackets scoreless on just three hits in the game.

Defiance threatened in the top of the fourth, as Aarika Davis led off with a walk and Marah Robinson doubled to advance her to third with no outs. However, Goslee dug in to induce two strikeouts and a pop fly to get out the inning without any damage.    

DC's Shauna Bowers returned the favor in the second contest, as she got the start for the Jackets and held the Engineers scoreless through five frames, allowing just three hits.

The offense did not take long to get going this time, as DC's Tasha Stucke led off the first inning with a double, and came around to score on an RBI by Katie Miller to give Defiance the early lead.

Defiance tacked on three more runs in the top of the second, with Aubrie Ridinger and Katelyn Samples each reaching base safely to start the inning. Stucke picked up her 24th RBI of the season to bring Ridinger in to score, before Katie Miller followed with a two-run single, bringing in Davis and Stucke to open up a 4-0 advantage

The Jackets would go on to post two more runs in the fourth and fifth innings to run away with the abbreviated eight-run victory. Elizabeth Petrie had a stand-out game for Defiance, posting two hits and two RBI in the game.

Defiance will wrap up its 2010 campaign at home on Saturday, May 1, when it host the fifth-place Manchester College Spartans (19-16-1, 7-5 HCAC) in a doubleheader, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Lady Jackets on senior day, when DC's Aarika Davis will be honored for her four outstanding years of service.