Softball swept at Franklin

FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Defiance College softball team was swept Saturday afternoon in an HCAC doubleheader at Franklin College. Franklin took the first game 4-2 and game two 9-4.

Franklin remains undefeated in HCAC play at 6-0 and improves to 17-5 overall. The Yellow Jackets fall to 8-17 overall and 3-3 in conference play. 

Game one - Franklin 4, Defiance 2

The Grizzlies scored twice in the first inning and led the rest of the way for the victory. Franklin led off the game with a triple before Anika Craft struck out the next two but the Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead with a two-out base hit to claim the early lead. Franklin added another with an infield single with two outs in the third and scored an unearned run in the fifth on an error by Natalee Cooper. 

The Yellow Jackets attempted to mount a late game rally again, but came up short as they were only able to put single runs together in the sixth and seventh inning. Craft led off the sixth with a single and later scored on a single by Cooper. DC had first and second with one out in the inning but Ali Mowen and Savannah McCoy were retired to end the inning. Madison Guggenbiller provided a spark in the seventh with a pinch hit home run, the first of her career. However, she would be the only DC player to reach base in the inning.

Five Yellow Jackets finished the game with one hit each and Craft (4-3) was tagged with the loss on the mound pitching 6.0 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) while striking out seven. 

Game two - Franklin 9, Defiance 4

Just like game one, Franklin jumped out to a first inning lead and scored one on yet another two-out hit. The third inning featured a big momentum shift as the Yellow Jackets loaded the bases with no outs but could not score and the Grizzlies responded with three in the inning to take a 4-0 lead. 

The Yellow Jackets cut the lead in half in the fourth inning with a two-out, two-run single by Brooke Silcox. Franklin answered right back by equaling DC's two runs as they got a two-out, two-run single as well. Both runs were unearned as the inning started with an error by Payton Mallett. Franklin expanded their lead to seven with three more in the sixth. 

The Yellow Jackets went down fighting until the end as McCoy and Anna Emswiler provided RBI base hits in the seventh inning.

Riley Alcorn (1-5) was credited with the loss, pitched 2.0 innings and allowed four earned runs. Savannah McCoy pitched 3.0 innings and allowed five runs with only one earned and struck out one. Emma Rodgers pitched the final inning and struck out one. 

Up Next

The Yellow Jackets host HCAC opponent Earlham for a doubleheader at Sal Hench Field on Monday beginning at 3 p.m.