DC splits with Denison in Sunday doubleheader

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College Softball team split with Denison University Sunday afternoon in a doubleheader that featured a pair of shutout victories at Sal Hench Field.

The Yellow Jackets found themselves on the losing end of the first shutout, as the Big Red defeated Defiance 4-0 in game one. However, DC bounced back in the second game, defeating Denison 3-0 behind the arm of Lauren Dicke in the circle and a big fourth inning for the Purple and Gold.

In game one, the Yellow Jackets fell behind Denison in the second inning and were unable to generate enough offense to counter the Big Red. Denison scored two runs on four hits and a Defiance error in the top of the second to go ahead.

In the third inning, Denison extended their lead over the Yellow Jackets with a two-run home run to go up 4-0. Defiance could not respond, generating only one more hit and a walk in the final four innings.

Kailea Holbrook picked up the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, in seven innings of work.

Brittany Shough extended her hit streak to seven games in the first of two games on the day, after going 1-for-3.

In game two, Dicke found herself in a pitching dual with Denison. The Big Red had a base runner via a hit and an error in the first two innings, but Dicke responded and had three early strikeouts and a few fly outs to get out of the early innings.

Denison threatened again in the third inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. After a fly out and an error pushed the base runners to second and third, Dicke forced a pair of pop outs to end Denison's biggest scoring threat of the game.

In the bottom of the fourth, Defiance capitalized on its scoring chance to put up three runs. Macy Ferrall doubled to left center to lead off the inning. After Ferrall took third on a ground out, she plated the first run of the game on a Makayla McAvoy bloop single up the middle.

Emily Denhard was then hit by a pitch and Tori Plummer loaded the bases with a slap hit infield single. With the bases loaded, Megan Warren hit a ball to the third base side that was mishandled and allowed for the second run to cross home plate and leave the bases loaded.

Defiance added its third run in the next at bat, as Maggie Neanen reached on a fielder's choice that put Warren out at second base, allowing Denhard to score from third.

Dicke then controlled the Denison offense, allowing just three hits over the final innings. Dicke finished the game with seven hits against, while also recording five strikeouts.

Defiance will return to action Monday for the final two games of a three-game home stand that featured six games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.