Yellow Jackets Stumble at Manchester (Ind.)
NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Late rally from Manchester (Ind.) University in game two was the difference maker in the Defiance College softball doubleheader loss to Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent Manchester (Ind.) University in North Manchester, Ind.
NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Late rally from Manchester (Ind.) University in game two was the difference maker in the Defiance College softball doubleheader loss to Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent Manchester (Ind.) University in North Manchester, Ind.
In game one, Defiance (12-18, 3-7 HCAC) struggled to get offense moving as Manchester (18-12, 7-5 HCAC) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. The Spartans added two more in the bottom of the sixth to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Defiance was held scoreless the remaining inning as Manchester secured the game one victory 4-0.
DC recorded two hits in freshman Jordan Osborne (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) and senior Megan Pleskovic (Strongsville). In the circle, sophomore Sarah Kaya (Lorain/Clearview) pitched the complete game and recorded the loss after allowing four runs, two earned, off of eight hits.
In game two, Defiance struck first with two runs in the top of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Freshman Jackie Hartman (Parma/Padua Franciscan) recorded an RBI-double that scored sophomore Haley Patty (Bradford). Senior Sandra Hubler (Berea) hit another RBI-double at the next at-bat to score Hartman.
The Yellow Jackets tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth after sophomore Keri Hupp (Louisville) hit an RBI-single to score Pleskovic. Four batters later, senior Makayla McAvoy hit a single to left field that allowed sophomore Paige Huttenlocker (Jackson, Mich. /Grass Lake) to cross home plate.
The Spartans scored five unanswered runs in the final innings to take the from-behind-win from DC by a final score of 5-4.
The Purple and Gold had 10 hits coming from eight different Yellow Jackets. Osborne recorded a multi-hit game and went three-of-four at the plate. At pitcher, freshman Jamie Kimbler (Huber Heights/Wayne) got the start and a no-decision after allowing four runs off of nine hits and sitting down one batter. Kaya came in for one and one-third innings and recorded the loss after allowing one run off of two hits.
The Yellow Jackets will return home for senior day on Saturday, Apr. 23 to face HCAC foe Mount St. Joseph University at Sal Hench Field. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.