DC Softball Falls to No. 1 Montclair State, Downs Albion

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – It was day three of action for the Lady Jackets softball team down in sunny Florida, as they fell 6-2 in their first matchup with the Montclair State Red Hawks who are the National Collegiate Athletic Association No. 1 ranked team for Div. III. However, the team bounced right back with a solid 9-1 five-inning victory over the Albion Scots to put its season record at 4-2.

Defiance was fighting an uphill battle, as the Red Hawks starting pitcher Alex Hill dominated the DC bats by throwing 6.1 innings of shutout ball and recording 13 punch-out's on only one hit. The Jackets did show some life though when they scored in two runs in the top of the seventh on four walks and one hit.

Sophomore Lauren Dicke started for the Purple and Gold.  It was her first start this season and she recorded 2.1 innings of work, giving up four runs (three earned). Her record falls to 0-1 with the defeat. First-year pitcher Alli Rowland made a relief appearance from the bullpen in the third inning and notched 3.2 frames. The freshman gave up six hits, two runs and struck out a pair in her time on the mound.

However, the loss did not put the Lady Jackets down. After holding their own with the No. 1 team in the country, DC came out firing on all cylinders in its matchup with Albion.

Both the offense and defense stepped up after their subpar performances in the day's first contest. On the hill, freshman Katie Patchin went the distance, as she pitched all five innings in the game to improve to 2-0 for the year. The West Farmington, Ohio, native surrendered six hits, one earned run and struck out three. Patchin also added a single and an RBI at the dish.

To balance out the strong pitching on the mound, the Purple and Gold lineup took care of business as well. Every batter from lineup spot two through nine notched a hit on the day and chalked up 12 in total.

Junior third baseman Macy Ferrall had the best game at the plate, as she went 3-for-4 with one double, three scores and three runs batted in. She was followed by two-hit performances from senior Katie Miller and junior Maggie Neanen.

Right back in action tomorrow Thursday, March 14, the Defiance College softball team will face-off against the Wheaton College Lyons at 3 p.m. Right after, DC will battle the Purple Raiders of Mount Union at 5 p.m.