Centre’s Late Runs Spoil DC’s Season-Opening Doubleheader

DANVILLE, Ky. – Defiance dropped both games of its season-opening doubleheader at Centre College on Friday, as the Yellow Jackets offense was held to just two runs on the day and the Colonels scored late runs in both contests. The loss was DC's first against Centre since 2007.

The Yellow Jackets' offense is expected to be one of the team's strengths in 2011, but that was not the case in the season-opener, as Centre's sophomore pitcher, Emily Landherr, held DC scoreless on three hits in game one.

Defiance threatened in the first inning, as Katie Miller, batting second in the lineup, recorded a double in her first at bat of the season to give DC a runner in scoring position with one out. Marah Robinson drew a walk in the next at bat, but Centre got out of the inning unscathed after a pair of groundouts ended the frame.  

The Colonels' first batter reached on an error, and came around to score to give Centre a 1-0 advantage. DC's freshman pitcher, Kailea Holbrook, shook it off and proceeded to pitch three scoreless innings, but the Colonels finally got to her in the fifth inning, as they broke the game open with four runs on five hits to put the game out of reach.

Defiance led for all but the final inning in game two.

Tasha Stucke led off the first inning with a single, and eventually made it to home on a RBI single by Kaycee Butt with two outs. Both teams would go scoreless over the next four innings, before Macy Ferrall scored a run to give DC a 2-0 advantage in the sixth. Ferrall drew a walk to start the inning, and made it home on a RBI single from Katelyn Samples.

Defiance needed three outs to pick up its first win of the season, but the Colonels didn't cooperate, recording back-to-back singles to start the seventh. Holbrook dug in and got the next two batters out, but Centre's Regina Sena homered with two outs to end the game and complete the two-game sweep.

The Yellow Jackets will head further south to compete in the annual Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla., beginning on Sunday. Defiance will play against Emmanuel College at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, before squaring off against Alverno College at 11:00 a.m.