DC Softball Splits One-Run Tilts with Comets

DEFIANCE, Ohio – In a non-conference doubleheader between two evenly matched squads, the Yellow Jacket softball team won game one against the Olivet Comets 6-5, but fell in the second 9-8 in nine innings. The Purple and Gold's record moved to 14-22 on the season, while Olivet now sits at 11-21.

In game one, action was going smooth with three innings of scoreless ball to start. Each team had recorded only one hit and the pitchers were in complete control. However, when the offenses got their second cracks at the plate, they had gained their timing and got the scoring in motion.

Olivet got on the board first in the top of the fourth with three straight two-out singles to go up 1-0. DC would then answer with its first scores of the game in the bottom of the inning. Katie Miller (Archbold, OH / HS) got things going with a leadoff double to center. Kailea Holbrook (Defiance, OH / HS) than notched her first triple of the season to tie the game. Run number two was plated when Makayla McAvoy knocked in pinch runner Katie Haydett (St. Claire Shore, MI / Lakeview) and put the Jackets up 2-1.

With DC up, coach Holava made the strategic decision to bring in Katie Patchin (West Farmington, OH / Bristol Local) from the bullpen and change up what the Comet batters were seeing. Unfortunately, the switch was unsuccessful and Olivet brought in four runs off of the freshman and Rowland was reentered to contain the scoring. The Comets were now back on top 5-2 after five.

The Purple and Gold have faltered in past games after big momentum swings for the opponent. But today's game would play out differently, as the home team never gave up and came back in dramatic fashion to win the game.

Defiance first chipped off one run of the deficit with a Gloria Basinger (Bluffton, OH / HS) RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to make it 5-3. Then DC knotted the tilt at 5-5 in the sixth frame with a few fielding miscues by the Comets.

With all the momentum back in the Yellow Jackets favor, Rowland breezed through the top of the seventh with a 1-2-3 frame. The stage was set for DC to complete the comeback and it did just that with a little small ball. Holbrook worked a leadoff walk and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brittany Shough (DeGraff, OH / Riverside). Following a wild pitch that brought Holbrook one base away from victory, Tori Plummer (Perrysburg, OH / HS) came through in the clutch with a poke through the left side to grab the 6-5 win for the Purple and Gold.

Rowland earned the victory in the tight game to even her record to 7-7 on the 2013 campaign. The freshman came through with 6.2 solid innings, allowing one run with four strikeouts. DC's offense was well balanced in the game, as all but one started recorded hit. Macy Ferrall (St. Marys, OH / Memorial) and Anna Vasquez (West Unity, OH / Hilltop) led the group by each going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

The second contest of the afternoon made for an exciting matchup. Action featured five lead changes and four innings where both squads scored in the same frame. After one run scored by both DC and Olivet in the second and third innings made it an even 2-2, the Yellow Jackets opened up with four runs in the bottom of the third to take their first lead.

After one runs crossed home plate from a Comet error on a suicide squeeze play, Miller swatted a double to the center field wall that plated a pair of runs. Shough then stroked a single to left that scored another for DC to make the lead 6-2 after four.

But just as Defiance had done in the first game, Olivet came right back with a rally of its own. The visitors notched a run in the fifth and four in the top of the sixth to regain the advantage 7-6. The lead didn't last long, as none had all game, and the Purple and Gold squared the contest at 7-7 with another Comet miscue in the field.

Each team then went scoreless in the seventh inning and sent the dramatic game into extras. International rules kicked in and put a runner on second to start both squads' at bats in the eighth. Defiance and Olivet each played small and moved the runner over to third and brought them across the plate in the next at back making it 8-8 after eight.

Unfortunately, the Comets were successful in bringing home the runner on second in the top of the ninth, while the Yellow Jackets stranded the runner on third and fell 9-8 for a tough split in the series.

Lauren Dicke (Lima, OH / Lima Shawnee) started the game and went five innings allowing five runs on seven hits with four punch outs. Rowland came on in relief and kept DC in the game but received the tough-luck loss. She tossed four frames and gave up four runs (two earned) with one strikeout.

Basinger, Shough and Plummer headed the home team with two hits apiece in the contest. Neanen also added three runs scored with Miller contributing in with a pair of runs batted in.

The Defiance College softball team will return to play tomorrow Wednesday, May 1 to take part in its last contests of the season. The Jackets will battle the Heidelberg Student Princes with game one slated to start at 3:30 p.m.