Yellow Jackets Rebound and End Day with a Split

OLIVET, MICH. – The Defiance College softball team fell to Olivet (Mich.) College in a 9-1 five-inning game and turned around and stole the second game 10-3 to finish the day with a split in non-conference action.

In game one, both teams were held scoreless until the bottom of the third inning, where Olivet (10-2) tacked on the first two runs of the ballgame. The Comets added five more runs in the fourth to take an early 7-0 lead over the Yellow Jackets (6-6).

Defiance added one run to the scoreboard in the top of the fifth-inning after senior Makayla McAvoy (Mt. Gilead) hit a long ball over the left field fence. The lone run proved to be the only Yellow Jacket score as the Comets scored twice more to ensure the mercy rule and end the game ahead, 9-1.

DC had four hits, with four different Yellow Jackets recording a hit in freshman Jordan Osborne (Deleware/Rutherford B. Hayes), junior Megan Warren (Mason), McAvoy and senior Megan Pleskovic (Strongsville).

Defiance used two pitchers in the  game with sophomore Sarah Kaya (Lorain/Clearview) getting the start and the loss, after going three-innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits.

In the nightcap, Defiance struck first and never looked back. The Yellow Jackets put up a six-run second-inning that began with a RBI-single from Pleskovic. A fielding error from the Comets allowed sophomore Haley Patty (Bradford) to score for the second run of the inning. The error opened the flood gates and the Yellow Jackets scored on the next three at-bats which included a two-RBI single from Warren, a RBI-single from McAvoy and a sacrifice fly from freshman Jackie Hartman (Parma/Padua-Franciscan).

Defiance added an insurance run in the top of the third-inning from a RBI-single from Pleskovic to boost the lead to 7-0.

Olivet added one run in the fourth-inning and two runs in the fifth-inning to cut the deficit to 7-3. Those runs proved to be the final runs for the Comets as Defiance added two runs in the sixth from a RBI-single from McAvoy and a foul ball hit to deep left field from sophomore Keri Hupp (Louisville) allowed Warren to score. The Yellow Jackets added one more run in the seventh to finalize the score in favor of Defiance, 10-3.

DC had 14 hits, with four Yellow Jackets having a multi-hit game. Warren went a perfect, four-of-four with two RBI and two runs scored.

In the circle, freshman Jamie Kimbler (Huber Heights/Wayne) got the nod and the win as she pitched four and one-third innings, allowing just three runs off of 11 hits. Kaya pitched the final two and two-thirds innings, allowing zero runs and striking out four batters.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Sunday, Mar. 20 when they host Adrian (Mich.) College in non-conference play. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.