Softball Shuts Out Beloit; Falls to Farmingdale State

KISSIMMEE, FLA.  --  For the second straight day, the Defiance College softball team split a pair of games with a victory against Beloit (Wisc.) University, 7-0, but falling to Farmingdale (N.Y.) State College in the nightcap, 7-6, in Kissimmee, Fla.

In the game against Beloit, Defiance (4-4) plated a run in the bottom of the first inning on a RBI base hit by sophomore Keri Hupp (Louisville) to take the early lead.  The Yellow Jackets added three more runs in the third that included a two-RBI double by junior Megan Warren (Mason) and a RBI-single by freshman Jackie Hartman (Parma/Padua Franciscan).

The Jackets kept up the scoring with a run in the fourth and two more runs in the fifth.  DC's run in the fourth came via a bases loaded walk by Hupp followed by a RBI-double by freshman Michaela Bauer (Hicksville) and a run by senior Katie Haydett (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Lakeview) in the fifth to make the score 7-0.

DC held Beloit (1-6) to just one hit in the game, which produced no runs for the Buccaneers as the Jackets went on to the 7-0 shutout.

At the plate for DC, four players recorded multiple hits with junior Emily Denhard (Troy, Mich./Kolbe Academy) finishing two-of-two with a run scored.  Hartman ended the game two-of-three with a run scored and RBI.  Sophomore Kaity Kuhn (Celina) and freshman Jordan Osborne (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) both posted two-of-four efforts, including both players scoring a run.

At pitcher, sophomore Sarah Kaya (Lorain/Clearview) pitched the entire game and improved to 3-2 overall for the season.  She gave up no runs and just one hit while striking out a career-high 12 batters.

Against Farmingdale State, both teams swapped runs in the first inning with DC's run coming on a RBI-single by Warren.  Farmingdale (1-2) took advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning with five runs to lead 6-1.  

Defiance answered with a run in the top of the fifth thanks to a ground out that plated sophomore Haley Patty (Bradford) to make the score, 6-2.  But the Rams came right back in the bottom of the frame with a run of their own to extend the lead back to five runs, 7-2.  The Jackets then made a dent in the deficit with a three-run sixth inning that came on a bases loaded, base clearing double by senior Megan Pleskovic (Strongsville) narrowing the gap to 7-5.

The deficit remained a pair of runs heading into the seventh and DC crept closer with a run on a hit by Hartman with runners on second and third, but with two outs.  On the same play, the Jackets would go for the tie with the runner on second, but the potential game-tying run would result in the final out of the game on a play at the plate, allowing Farmingdale to hold on for the 7-6 victory.

Warren and junior Emily Denhard (Troy/Kolbe Academy) both had multi-hit games for DC with Denhard going two-of-three in addition to scoring two runs.  Warren finished two-of-four with the RBI.  Pleskovic ended the game, one-of-three with her three RBI.

Three pitchers would see action for Defiance with sophomore Sydni Smith (Jackson, Mich./Lumen Christi) getting the start and would go three and two-thirds innings allowing six runs, three earned, on nine hits.  She would also be credited with the loss and is now 0-1 on the season.  Freshman Jamie Kimbler (Huber Heights/Wayne) pitched an inning-and-a-third in relief and gave up one run and four hits to go along with one strikeout.  Kaya came on to finish the game and allowed no runs or hits in an inning of work.

Defiance will wrap-up its Florida schedule with its final two games tomorrow (Friday, Mar. 11) begining with a matchup against Coe (Iowa) College at 9 a.m.  The Jackets will then take on Montclair (N.J.) State University at 11:15 a.m. in the finale.