Yellow Jackets Sweep Panthers in Road HCAC Doubleheader

HANOVER, Ind. – The Defiance College softball team picked up two much needed wins on Friday afternoon, as the Jackets traveled to Hanover College to play the Panthers in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader. The Jackets won game one 4-1 and game two by a score of 7-4.

In game one of the two game series, the Yellow Jackets were the first to get on the board. Sophomore Macy Ferrall led off the top of the second inning with a double and later scored on a fielder's choice from freshman Hallie Sullivan. Ferrall was a perfect 3-3 in game one.

Ferrall struck again for the Purple and Gold in the top of the fifth, as the sophomore laced a double into left field to score junior Katie Miller and senior Aubrie Ridinger, who each had a multi-hit game.

The double gave the Jackets a 3-0 lead, which would prove to be more than enough for sophomore pitcher Kailea Holbrook. The sophomore went the distance for DC and only gave up six hits and one unearned run. The Jackets and Panthers each tallied a run in the sixth, and Defiance went on to claim a 4-1 victory.

The Yellow Jackets used the momentum from game one and carried it into the beginning of the day's second game. Despite allowing the Panthers to jump out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Jackets showed their resilience and knotted the game up with three runs in the top of the third.

Base-knocks by sophomore Jordan Sawmiller, sophomore Stephanie Esquibel and Miller were the catalysts to the three run inning. Sawmiller and Miller clutch hits as each picked up a RBI in the third.

Defiance struck for three more in the top of the fourth and opened up a 6-3 lead. DC started the fourth by loading the bases by reaching on two walks and an error. Esquibel then stepped up and hit an infield single to the shortstop, plating the go-ahead run for the Jackets. Sawmiller followed up the single with a double of her own as DC was able to score the second of the inning. Miller capped off the inning by driving in Defiance's sixth run of the day as the junior grounded out to shortstop.

The three run lead allowed pitcher Lauren Dicke to settle into the game. The freshman tossed a complete game and only gave up two earned runs while scattering eight hits.

Miller put an exclamation mark on the game and her day when she belted a solo-homerun in the top of the seventh. The homerun is the second of the season for Miller and ties her for the team lead with Sawmiller. The Jackets went on to win by a score of 7-4.

Miller, Sawmiller and Ridinger each registered five hits between the two games and gave the struggling offense a much needed lift. The win brings Defiance's HCAC record up to an even 3-3 mark.

DC is back on the diamond on Saturday, April 7 as the team travels to Franklin. The game is set to start at 1:00 p.m.