DC Falls to Kean and Rhodes

KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- The Defiance College softball team struggled from the plate as they lost a pair of 4-0 contests against Kean (N.J.) University and Rhodes (Tenn.) College at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.

Kean (7-0) opened the contest with a sac fly in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Defiance (1-5) starter Sarah Kaya (Lorain/Clearview) then held Kean without a run until the fourth frame when they extended their lead to 2-0. Kaya also gave up a pair of unearned runs in the sixth inning, finishing up the scoring in a 4-0 loss for Defiance.

Kaya finished the contest throwing a complete-game, throwing six innings and giving up four runs (two earned) on nine hits. Kaya did not surrender a walk and struck out five Cougars.

Kean hurler Shannon McMahon shut down the Yellow Jackets, firing a no-hitter. The lone Defiance baserunner was sophomore Michaela Bauer (Hicksville), who reached base on an error in the sixth.

The nightcap saw another seven-inning struggle on the offensive side for Defiance, dropping a 4-0 tilt to Rhodes College (11-8).

The Lynx put three quick runs on the board in the second inning to grab a 3-0 advantage. Rhodes went on to add another run in the top of the fourth and held the Jackets scoreless the rest of the way to claim the 4-0 shutout. 

The offense was led by junior Haley Patty (Bradford), who went two-for-three with two singles. The other two Defiance hits came from senior Megan Warren (Mason) and freshman Brooke Gostomsky (Covington) with a base hit each.

On the mound, Gostomsky started the game and pitched an inning-and-a-third giving up three runs on two hits.  Sophomore Jamie Kimbler (Huber Heights/Wayne) threw 5.2 innings and gave up just four hits while striking out three batters.

Defiance will take a day off after six games in three days, before resuming action at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. They will resume action on Thursday, Mar. 9 with a matchup against Bridgewater (Va.) College at 11:15 a.m., before playing Muskingum University at 3:45 p.m.