Yellow Jackets split doubleheader with Oberlin

OBERLIN, Ohio –  DC traveled to Oberlin, Ohio to play Oberlin College for the first time in the Jodie Holava era.  DC split with Oberlin in the doubleheader.  DC won game one 4-2 and dropped the second game 2-1.

In game one, the fans saw a pitching duel early.  Kailea Holbrook (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance) for the Yellow Jackets (7-24) and Melanie Budney for Oberlin (9-21) both pitched gems to start the day.

Holbrook did a great job in the circle for the first five innings.  She struck out one and only gave up one hit.  The lone hit came in the first inning, then Holbrook and the DC defense kept a zero in the run and hit columns for the next four innings.

The Yeowomen's Budney also kept the DC lineup in check the first five frames.  Megan Pleskovic (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville) picked up the Yellow Jackets' first hit in the third inning.

After another hitless two innings, DC's bats woke up in the top of the sixth inning.

Sandra Hubler (Berea, Ohio / Berea) started things off.  She reached on an error by Oberlin after a sharply hit ball to the left side of the infield.  Emily Denhard (Troy, Mich. / Kolbe Academy) would take over on the base paths for Hubler.

Pleskovic went to lay down a sacrifice bunt for DC to move Denhard into scoring position.  Another Yeowomen error would allow Pleskovic to safely reach first and get Denhard all the way to third.

Senior Maggie Neanen (Eaton, Ohio / Eaton) would be up next with no outs and runners on the corners.  A ball hit to the third baseman would force Denhard to stay put, but would allow Pleskovic to get to second and Neanen to get to first.

Coming up with a big hit for DC would be Macy Ferrall (St. Marys, Ohio / Memorial).  With the bases loaded she would lace one to right field, scoring Denhard and Pleskovic on the play.  Ferrall would also move Neanen to third and she would end up on second with a two RBI double.  The Yellow Jackets would lead 2-0 at that point but they weren't done yet.

Megan Warren (Mason, Ohio / Mason) would come up with her third RBI in two games as she ripped a shot up the middle on a 0-2 count.  Neanen would score and Ferrall would head to third on Warren's single with still no outs in the inning.

Makayla McAvoy (Mt. Gilead, Ohio / Mt. Gilead) would ground into a double play next, but Ferrall would score on the play to give DC the big 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Oberlin would put a two out rally together.  A single, error, and another single would be enough to push two runs across the plate with still an inning yet to play.

Holbrook would stay in the circle for DC and try to complete her game for the win.  Oberlin would put together one last threat, as a leadoff single put the pressure on the Yellow Jackets.  The next batter would fly out to Pleskovic to make it one out and one on.

The next Yeowoman up would double to left center to put two runs in scoring position.  Coach Holava would then go to her bullpen, bringing in Lauren Dicke (Lima, Ohio / Lima Shawnee) to try and close out the game.

Dicke would make quick work of the next two batters, striking out the first and then getting a ground out to second to secure the save and a Yellow Jacket victory by the score of 4-2.

Ferrall would lead DC with two RBIs and Warren would add another to help lead the Yellow Jackets to the game one victory.

Holbrook went 6.1 innings and gave up two runs, none earned, and six hits in her third victory of the season.

In game two, Dicke took the mound and carried her pitching momentum from game one into the second game.

She held the Yeowomen to no runs on two hits in the first three innings.  The Yellow Jackets were only able to find one hit in that span of three innings.

Despite a lead off hit in the fourth, DC was not able to bring around the runner and the score stayed at 0-0.

Back to back singles for Oberlin to lead off the bottom of the fourth put the Yellow Jackets on their heels.  Dicke battled back though, finding two outs.  With two outs a two on, Oberlin hit a big double to score one and leave two runners in scoring position.  After a walk to load the bases, the Yellow Jackets were able to get a line out to end the inning with minimal damage.  The Yeowomen led 1-0 heading into the fifth.

DC again threatened in the fifth.  With two outs, Tori Plummer (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg) and Neanen found back to back singles to put the pressure on the Oberlin defense.  The Yellow Jackets just couldn't find another hit to help the cause and once again left runners on base.

Defiance found the tying run in the sixth.  McAvoy doubled to left field with one out and nobody on to take some of the game's momentum.  Katie Haydett (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) would come into the game to pinch run for McAvoy.

A DC groundout to first base found the second out of the inning, but Haydett used her speed to get to third and was just 60 feet away from scoring the tying run.

Centerfielder Brittany Shough (DeGraff, Ohio / Riverside) would come through in the clutch for the Yellow Jackets, singling to center and bringing in Haydett.

Dicke would hold Oberlin to just one hit in the bottom of the sixth to set up a 1-1 showdown heading into the seventh inning.

Plummer would find her second hit of the game, singling to shortstop and giving DC the chance to take the lead.

After another out, Ferrall would single through the middle.  This put two on with two outs, but the Yellow Jackets were just not able to find the necessary hit with two down to give them the lead.

Oberlin found the winning run after an error and a double in the bottom of the last inning.  The home team took the victory 2-1 in game two.

Shough and Plummer led DC in game two with two hits apiece.  Shough added the lone RBI for the Yellow Jackets.  McAvoy hit a double while Haydett scored the one run for the away squad.

DC will close out its season with two more doubleheaders.  This Saturday the Yellow Jackets will play their last home games against Transylvania.  First pitch in game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.  They will then travel to Olivet on Monday for the final two games of the season.  First pitch at Olivet is set for 3:30 p.m.