Softball splits HCAC opener at Hanover

The Defiance softball team split their HCAC opener on the road at Hanover on Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets fell in Game 1, 9-1, and took Game 2 of the doubleheader, 10-3.

The Basics

• Records: Defiance (8-8), Hanover (4-12)
• Location: Hanover, Ind. - Kops-Bedel Field
• Attendance: 63

Game 1

Inside The Numbers

• Senior Taylor Biggs started in the circle for Defiance pitched the first four innings. She allowed eight runs off nine hits and earned four strikeouts.
• Senior Kalin Hubble led the Yellow Jackets with two hits including two doubles.
• Sophomore Brooke Silcox and senior Sophie Moller each added one hit.
• Lily Beurman got the start for the Panthers and pitched all six innings. She allowed one run off four hits and struckout seven batters.
• Lexi Garloch led Hanover with four hits and one RBI.

The Difference

• Hanover started the scoring early in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead.
• The Panthers tallied three more runs in the second to increase their lead to 4-0.
• Defiance notched their first run in the third inning to make it 4-1.
• The Panthers used a four-run fourth inning to expand their lead to 8-1.
• Hanover added a run in the sixth inning to take the game, 9-1.
• Defiance ended the game with four hits and one error.
• The Panthers finished the contest with 12 hits and one error.

Game 2

Inside The Numbers

• Freshman Anika Craft earned the start for the Yellow Jackets and pitched the first four innings. She allowed three runs off three hits and recorded four strikeouts.
• Sophomore Savannah McCoy came in relief and pitched the final three innings allowing no runs and only three hits.
• Junior Marissa Roberts led Defiance at the plate with three hits and two RBIs including two doubles.
• Hubble notched two hits and two RBIs with a homerun and a double.
• Junior Josilyn Guzman added two hits and one RBI including a double.
• Craft also chipped in two hits for Defiance during the game.
• Lauren Beaman started on the mound for Hanover and pitched the first 3.2 innings allowing seven runs off seven hits.
• Kensie Bradley led the Panthers with one two RBIs.

The Difference

• Silcox got the scoring started in the first inning with an RBI double to give the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead.
• The Panthers tied the game up in the first inning, 1-1, and then took the lead in the second to make it, 2-1.
• Defiance used a huge fourth inning that tallied six runs to take a 7-3 advantage.
• The Yellow Jackets added another run in the fifth inning to make the score, 8-3.
• Defiance earned two more runs in the sixth to make the final score of 10-3.
• The Yellow Jackets finished the game with 13 hits and three errors.
• Hanover ended the contest with six hits and one error.

Up Next

• The Yellow Jackets next hit the road once again when they take on Albion College on Sunday, April 3. Game 1 is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and Game 2 will be at 3:00 p.m.