Yellow Jackets Come Up Short Versus Bluffton

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The DC softball team hosted Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Bluffton University for a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. The Jackets battled in each of the two games but could not record a win, as Defiance was defeated 8-7 in game one and 10-7 in the second game.

In game one of the series, both Defiance and Bluffton got on the board in the second inning. After a Beaver run in the top half, senior Katelyn Samples laced an RBI base hit to tie the game at one run apiece.

Unfortunately for the Jackets, the tie did not last for long due to a four run top of the third by Bluffton. A leadoff walk followed by an error to place runners on first and second with no outs led to the big inning. The Beavers managed to tack on one more run in the fourth to lengthen its lead to 6-1.

The Jackets were able to hold the Bluffton attack at bay in the top of the fifth and cut into the lead by plating three runs in the bottom of the inning to make the score 6-4. Bluffton errors and a timely Macy Ferrall single led to the three runs.

The Purple and Gold silenced the Beavers' bats for the second consecutive inning in the sixth and received another clutch at bat from the reigning HCAC Hitter of the Week, Katie Miller. The junior stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs and ripped a base-clearing double to left field to give the Jackets their first lead of the game at 7-6.

Despite gaining the lead in dramatic fashion, DC was unable to hold off the Bluffton hitters in the final inning, as the Beavers scored two runs in the top half of the seventh and held Defiance runless in the bottom to win by a score of 8-7.

In game two of the matchup, Defiance jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first due to an Elizabeth Huffman double and two Bluffton errors.

Once again, Bluffton bounced back in the top of the third with another big offensive inning, as it scored five runs. Four costly Defiance errors aided the Beavers in the inning.

Defiance answered back with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to 5-4. This was as close as Defiance would get as Bluffton went on to win by a final score of 10-7.

The losses drop the Jackets' HCAC record to 4-6. DC is back in action on Saturday, April 14 as the team hosts Mount St. Joseph in a HCAC doubleheader. Game one is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m.