Winning streak up to five games for DC softball after two close wins at Heidelberg
TIFFIN, Ohio – Defiance College softball claimed two more victories of 7-4 and 5-3 at Heidelberg on Tuesday to push the team's winning streak to five games.
Laney Grimwood carried the load in game one with a five-RBI performance while Anika Craft walked a tightrope to her third straight winning decision in game two. The Yellow Jackets improve to 5-11 while the Student Princes drop to 5-9.
Game 1
Final: Defiance 7, Heidelberg 4
Win: Riley Alcorn (1-1)
Loss: Caitlin Dems (0-3)
Save: None
Box Score: Click here
Grimwood's five-RBI performance in the first game was highlighted by a fifth inning, three-run homer. Defiance's early lead had just disappeared during the previous half inning as two Heidelberg scores created a 3-2 ballgame. After DC's first two batters were retired to start the fifth frame, Anna Emswiler and Riley Alcorn worked back-to-back walks to set the stage for Grimwood's blast. The junior cleared the left field fence and the bases to lift the Jackets back into the lead, 5-3.
Two more Defiance runs were driven in by Grimwood during the top of the seventh. Riley Alcorn bunted over Lily Linke and Anika Craft, who both singled, to get the pair across the dish on a two-run single off Grimwood's bat to create the final score of 7-4.
The Yellow Jackets built an early 2-0 during the third. Josilyn Guzman legged out a triple to score Kelly Limbaugh, who pinch-ran for Marissa Roberts following a two-out walk and stole second, for DC's first run. Linke followed with a double for the first of her three hits in the victory.
Alcorn (Win, 1-1) earned the win in relief for Defiance. Starter Savannah McCoy gave up an RBI triple by Murissa Drown in the third for Heidelberg's first score. McCoy was not able to escape the fourth inning when she hit a batter to start the frame, worked a pair of outs on the infield and then walked her sixth hitter of the game before Alcorn was called upon. Both inherited runners in the inning scored on a single to right field by Jade Torres. Alcorn needed just 37 pitches to navigate through the next three innings and let up just one run during the sixth when Heidelberg connected on a pair of doubles.
Game 2
Final: Defiance 5, Heidelberg 3
Win: Anika Craft (3-4)
Loss: Jessica Voitko (3-5)
Save: Riley Alcorn (1)
Box Score: Click here
Defiance's offense picked up right where it left off with two scores in the top of the first. Craft reached on a leadoff walk and moved up to second on a steal and to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a Brooke Silcox single to center. After a Guzman single, Silcox came in on defensive obstruction after advancing to third on a wild pitch.
Two more Yellow Jackets scored in the third after Craft and Roberts started the inning with a single and double, then a Heidelberg misplay on a batted ball by Ali Mowen with a runner on third. Mowen later connected on an RBI single in the fifth to plate Silcox, who doubled to start the inning.
Craft (Win, 3-4) worked around Heidelberg hits in the first and second before they got to her for two in the third frame and one in the fourth. The Student Princes had opportunities to push across the tying run with the bases loaded in both innings and again in the fifth, but Craft got picked up by her defense in both cases. Craft worked her way into the seventh on 134 pitches and endured 12 hits before giving way to Alcorn (Save, 1) to lock down the final two outs of the victory.
To end the third, Guzman fielded a two-out single in center and cut down the runner at the plate trying to score from first. Craft wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth with a force out at home to preserve a 4-3 lead followed by an inning-ending popout in foul ground to the catcher Emswiler. In the fifth, Heidelberg loaded the sacks up all with two outs on a pair of singles and a walk before Craft fanned the final hitter.
Silcox was Defiance's top hitter on the day with two hits in each contest, which included a double in each affair. Guzman sported two extra-base hits, three total knocks and a walk.
The Yellow Jackets are slated to return to action with a doubleheader on Saturday against Albion, their first contest on their home field. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. at Sal Hench Field on the DC campus.
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