Miscues Cost DC Against Wheaton, Purple Raiders Handle Jackets

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – It was a tough day for the Purple and Gold softball team on its second-to-last day of competition down at the Rebel Spring Games. Defiance surrendered two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth and fell 2-1 to the Wheaton (Mass.) Lyons in the first game of the day and then it was defeated 9-1 by the Mount Union Purple Raiders in the second. The Yellow Jackets record now stands at an even 4-4 on the season.

Freshman pitcher Alli Rowland went out and tamed the Lyons for five straight innings of shutout ball. Unfortunately, fielding miscues led to a pair of two-out unearned runs that put Wheaton ahead 2-1 going into the seventh frame. From there, the Lyons closed the door on DC. Rowland took the tough-luck loss and her record fell to 1-1. The hurler finished with six solid innings of three-hit ball and two unearned runs. She also struck out a pair.

The only run in the game came on a two-out RBI single by senior Katie Miller. The left fielder sent a Wheaton pitch into center field and brought home junior Anna Vasquez.

In game two of the afternoon, Ohio Athletic Conference foe Mount Union took care of business against the Yellow Jackets with a 9-1 five-inning victory. Head coach Jodie Holava's alma mater got the best of her in the matchup, as the Purple Raiders bats were too much for Defiance pitchers Katie Patchin and Kailea Holbrook.

The freshman Patchin lasted 3.2 innings, giving up eight hits and five runs with two strikeouts. She took the loss in the game and dropped her season mark to 2-1. At the plate, Patchin lead the team with two hits in the game. Coming in for relief during the fourth inning was Holbrook. The junior however, did not have her best stuff against the Purple Raiders who knocked around the pitcher for four runs on five hits in 1.1 innings of work.

Defiance College will play its final two games of the spring break trip tomorrow Friday, March 15. In its 3 p.m. matchup, the Purple and Gold will face-off with the Lakeland Muskies. DC will then tangle with the Sage Gators in its last Rebel Spring game at 5 p.m.