Sawmiller Powers DC to Victory over Albion

ALBION, Mich. – With the Yellow Jacket offense struggling as of late, sophomore Jordan Sawmiller provided the spark that DC desperately needed to lift the team to a 4-2 victory over Albion College in game two of the doubleheader.

Sawmiller went 3-3 at the dish and was responsible for all four Defiance runs, three of which came off of two homeruns.

After DC struggled offensively in game one, the sophomore wasted little time getting the Jackets' bats going in the second game. In the top of the first, sophomore Macy Ferrall was able to draw a walk with one out and senior Katie Miller followed with a single to right center that advanced Ferrall to third. After a Defiance strikeout, Sawmiller laced a single through the left side of the infield to score Ferrall for the game's first run.

Starting pitcher Lauren Dicke held the Britons' offense at bay in the first three innings, allowing no runs on three hits.

Sawmiller extended the Yellow Jacket lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning with a leadoff solo homerun. The homerun was the first in the sophomore's career as a member of the Purple and Gold.

The lead was short-lived for Defiance as Albion rallied to knot the game up at two runs apiece in the bottom of the fourth. The Britons scored two runs on three hits in the frame. After a scoreless fifth inning, Sawmiller once again came to the rescue.

Sophomore Kailea Holbrook hit a one-out single to left center to set the stage for Sawmiller, who stepped up to the plate and launched her second homerun of the day to give the Yellow Jackets the lead for good. The Defiance College pitching staff and defense was able to stifle Albion's offense during the final two innings and secure the win by a score of 4-2.

With the impressive performance, Sawmiller now ranks first on the team in the category of homeruns and has the best single game marks for homeruns and runs batted in.

The Yellow Jackets were defeated in the first game of the day behind a dominant performance from Albion starting pitcher Erin Giannotta, who threw a complete game shutout. DC's starter, Holbrook, matched Giannotta pitch for pitch through the first five innings before giving up a run in the bottom of the sixth.

The Purple and Gold is next in action on Wednesday, March 21 as the team travels to Heidelberg for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.