Softball Swept by Mount St. Joseph

CINCINNATI, OHIO  --  The Defiance College softball team lost both games of a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against Mount St. Joseph University, 3-1 and 8-1, in Cincinnati.

In game one, neither team could score any runs until the top fo the fourth inning when Defiance (7-23, 1-13 HCAC) tallied a run on a RBI single by junior Megan Pleskovic (Strongsville).  Mount St. Joseph (15-9, 3-5 HCAC) then took control scoring three runs in the sixth to lead, 3-1.  The Yellow Jackets would have one last chance in the seventh and got one runner on base, but with two outs.  Before the run could cross homeplate, MSJ got Defience to hit into the game-ending out, clinching the 3-1 victory.

Defiance had seven hits in the game and had one multi-hitter in freshman Kaity Kuhn (Celina) who finished two-of-three.  Five other players each recorded a hit.  Pleskovic ended the game one-of-three in addition to her RBI.

Freshman Sarah Kaya (Lorain/Clearview) pitched all six innings for the Yellow Jackets, allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits and struck out seven batters.

The Lions took control of game two right from the start, scoring all eight of their runs in the first three innings.  MSJ began the game with a five-run bottom of the first inning that included a three-run homerun.  The Lions went on to add a run in the second and two more in the third to lead 8-0.  Defiance ended the possible shutout in the fourth with run that came on a RBi single by sophomore Megan Warren (Mason) making the score 8-1.  But that was as close as the Jackets would get as MSJ went on to the 8-1 final to complete the doubleheader sweep.

The DC bats struggled at the plate in game two, recording just two hits by Warren and Pleskovic.  Both had a hit in three attempts and Warren also added a RBI.

Freshman Haley Patty (Bradford) started the game, but only went a third of an inning giving up five runs on four hits.  Kaya came on to finish the game and allowed three runs, one earned, on seven hits and had one strikeout.

Defiance is scheduled to host Franklin (Ind.) College on Saturday, Apr. 25 in the final HCAC doubleheader of the season at Sal Hench Field.  The first game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.