Defiance Softball Claims a 3-1 Victory at Mount St. Joseph

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Following a six-day hiatus due to inclement weather, the Yellow Jacket softball team was finally able to finish its two-game series with Mount St. Joseph on Thursday. Defiance was victorious in its return to the diamond, claiming a 3-1 win over the Lions to improve to 6-4 in the HCAC.

Mount St. Joseph took a 1-0 lead after the first inning, when Tanya Sefton recorded an infield single and stole second base before being driven home by Megan McCullough with a RBI double. Defiance dug in defensively from that point forward, holding the Lions scoreless through the last six innings.

The Jackets left runners stranded in the next two innings before finally tying the score in the top of the fourth on Katie Miller's RBI double to center field. Miller's shot scored Kaycee Butt, who singled to start the inning, and after a scoreless bottom of the fourth, the two clubs entered the fifth frame knotted at one run apiece.

Aubrie Ridinger led off the fifth inning for Defiance with an infield single, and Tasha Stucke and Marah Robinson both reached base on balls to load the bags. Butt brought Ridinger home with a single to second base, and Elizabeth Petrie kept the momentum rolling with a single that scored Stucke and gave DC a two-run edge.  

That was all the offense Defiance would need, as Shauna Bowers took over for Kelly Schnipke in the bottom of the fifth and held the Lions scoreless for the last three innings. Schnipke left with the lead and picked up her sixth win of the season, while Bowers claimed her second save of the year to tie for the most in the HCAC this season.

Defiance is scheduled to play six games over the next three days, beginning tomorrow with a doubleheader at home against Manchester College (14-20; 5-5 HCAC). The HCAC showdown is DC's last home contest of the season, and the Yellow Jackets will honor their seven-member senior class prior to the first pitch at 3:30 p.m.