Defiance Ready for HCAC Tournament Run

DEFIANCE, OHIO - For the second consecutive year, the Defiance College softball team has qualified for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament this weekend, hosted by Transylvania (Ky.) University beginning on Friday, May 4.

The Yellow Jackets rounded out the regular season with a 22-12 overall mark, finishing 10-6 in HCAC play, which was good enough to enter the Tournament as the fourth-seed.

Defiance looks for their young leaders to continue to shine, led by freshman catcher Emma Perry (Bowling Green/Otsego), who finished the regular season in the top five in batting average (.455) and runs batted in (34). Juniors Jordan Osborne (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) and Michaela Bauer (Hicksville) batted .433 and .373, respectively for the Purple and Gold, to finish second and third on the season as they build towards their postseason run. They will also look for continued power from the third base position, as sophomore Brooke Gostomsky (Dayton/Covington) led DC with five home runs on the year.

The Yellow Jackets will also need to maintain strong performances from their pitching staff as they enter the weekend with a 3.08 team ERA, led by junior Rachel Wehrman (Fort Loramie/Minster).Wehrman heads into the Tournament with a team leading 2.33 ERA through 84.0 innings of work. Sophomore Sydney Zeuch (Mason/Mount Notre Dame) also deemed effective in the circle posting a 10-3 overall record with a 3.10 ERA through 92.2 innings of work. 

Defiance will take on fifth-seeded Manchester (Ind.) University on Friday, May 4 at 10 a.m. in the opening round for the chance to face top-seeded Transylvania (Ky.) University. 

Follow all the live action and Tournament updates via twitter (@DC_Athletics) as well as online at: https://transysports.prestosports.com/tournaments/sball/2017-18/index