Belles Pitching Overpowers DC Hitters in Doubleheader

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College softball team hosted Saint Mary's College on a chilly Monday afternoon for a doubleheader. The Belles' pitchers held the Yellow Jacket hitters at bay all afternoon as Saint Mary's swept DC by scores of 4-0 and 6-2.

Kailea Holbrook started game one for Defiance and tossed a complete game. The sophomore allowed only two earned runs and eight hits in her outing. The complete game marked her second straight in as many days.

Despite the solid pitching performance, the Purple and Gold batters struggled at the dish all afternoon, as Defiance was only able to manage eight hits in the two games. The Jackets' best scoring opportunity in game one came in the bottom of the seventh with a two out rally. With two outs, DC was able to get runners on second and third after Sara Ankeney and Aubrie Ridinger came up with back-to-back singles, but neither was able to score.

Game two was much of the same for the Defiance bats. Saint Mary's Monica Palicki tossed a three-hit complete game for the Belles.

The Jackets managed to grab the lead in the bottom half of the second inning after a Ridinger single scored two runs to give DC a 2-1 lead. The Purple and Gold were unable to hold the advantage for long, as the Belles bounced back in the top of the third with two runs of their own. Saint Mary's went on to tack on three more and win by a score of 6-2.

With the losses, the Jackets' record falls to 4-13 on the season. DC looks to regroup on Wednesday as it travels to Trine University to take on the Thunder for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.