Stagnant Offense Hurts DC in Doubleheader with ONU

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Yellow Jackets suffered back-to-back losses at home for the first time this season as Ohio Northern University held DC to seven hits and two runs in Wednesday's doubleheader.  Defiance was outscored, 10-2, in the first contest before dropping a 7-0 decision in the nightcap.

Defiance found itself in an early hole after Jackie Mangola sent a three-run shot over the left field fence in the opening frame. Elizabeth Huffman led off for Defiance in the bottom of the inning with a single to left field, and advanced to second on a walk by Tasha Stucke before being driven home with an RBI single up the middle from Mallory Faling.

After swapping zeros in the second inning, ONU tacked on two more runs in the top of the third as Katie Cretin drove a shot to left field that brought in Mangola and Ashley Sujkowski. The bottom of the inning began with another hit from Huffman, this time a double down the left field line that tied the junior outfielder for second in the HCAC in doubles this season. Stucke drove her home with a sacrifice fly to right field, and the Jackets went into the fourth with a three-run deficit.

The Polar Bears recorded five unanswered runs over the next three innings to claim an eight-run lead and hand Defiance an abbreviated 10-2 run-rule loss. Faling became DC's all-time walks leader in the loss, drawing a leadoff walk in the fourth that gave her 73 walks for her career.

Defiance matched its season-low with just two hits in the second contest, and ONU rolled to a 7-0 win to complete the two-game sweep. Faling added another walk in the game to put a two-walk cushion between herself and the former record holder and current assistant coach, Aarika Davis.

The Yellow Jackets will look to bounce back when they head to Adrian College on Saturday, April 2, to take on the NCAA Div. III No. 15 Bulldogs (18-0). Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.