Jackets Drop Heartbreaker to ONU

GREENCASTLE, Ind. – Defiance could not hold on to an early lead in its second round matchup with Ohio Northern on Friday, as the Polar Bears scored five runs in the final three innings to hand the Jackets an 8-5 defeat. DC stays alive in the tournament and will be back in action tomorrow at noon.

Trailing 1-0 in the first, Defiance scored two runs in the home half of the inning take the lead, as Marah Robinson plated Amanda Auzins and Tasha Stucke with double to right field to give the Jackets a 2-1 advantage after the first frame.

Ohio Northern retook the lead on two-run home run by Jackie Mangola in the second, but DC would answer with a three-run third. Auzins tied the contest with a solo shot to left center, helping Defiance draw even before the contest was postponed for just over an hour due to rain.

The Jackets stayed hot after the rain delay, loading the bases with no outs off ONU starter Cortney Cash. Robinson took advantage once again, drawing a bases-loaded walk to score Aarika Davis. Kayla Crager drove in DC's third run of the inning, plating Stucke with a bloop single to left field to give Defiance a 5-3 advantage with three innings in the book.

Justine Johnston pitched a perfect fourth inning to help maintain the lead, however, the Polar Bears would score five runs in the last three innings to pull out an 8-5 victory.

Defiance finished with nine hits in the game, led by Auzins and Bushman, who tallied a pair of hits on the day. Robinson topped DC with three RBI in the contest, while Auzins and Crager also drove in a run.

Schnipke took the loss for DC, surrendering three runs in the final 1.2 innings to fall to 10-5 on the season. Johnston failed to win a start for the first time in her last four outings, as the senior was looking for her school-record 19th win this season.

Defiance (29-15) will face the winner of the Hiram/Thomas More matchup on May 9 at 12:00 p.m. The Jackets can advance to their second-straight NCAA Regional Final Four with a victory.