Softball Earns Pivotal HCAC Split at Franklin

FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Defiance College softball team earned a pivotal split on Sunday afternoon in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action at Franklin. The Purple and Gold were blanked in game one 7-0 and claimed game two in exciting fashion, 2-1.

Defiance (19-9 overall, 7-3 HCAC) was led on the day by junior Jordan Osborne (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) going four-for-seven with an RBI and one run scored. Sophomore Sydney Zeuch (Mason/Mount Notre Dame) led the Purple and Gold in the circle, pitching eight complete innings en route to the game two win.

The Yellow Jackets found themselves locked in a pitchers dual for most of game two as neither team could string together an offensive attack.

Franklin would look to strike first in the bottom of the second as they loaded the bases before Zeuch was able to retire the side.

DC looked to capitalize in the top of the third inning as Osborne advanced to scoring position before the Grizzle pitching staff was able to leave the Yellow Jackets empty handed once more.

This continued for several innings before Franklin once again loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with one out. However, the Defiance defense deemed clutch as they were able to remain poise and force extra innings.

The Purple and Gold plated the game's first run in the top of the eighth inning as Osborne provided a timely RBI single to left scoring senior Haley Patty (Bradford), 1-0. The Yellow Jackets added an insurance run moments later as sophomore Brooke Gostomsky (Dayton/Covington) capitalized on a Franklin miscue scoring Osborne, 2-0.

Franklin responded in the bottom half of the inning as a sacrifice fly to center field would pull the Grizzles within 2-1. This is the closest the home team would get as the following batter flied out to right field sealing the DC victory.

In game one, the Yellow Jackets and Grizzles were in a dead lock before a two out single up the middle gave Franklin the 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third inning.

The Grizzles continued to remain poise at the dish as they added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning pushing the lead to 6-0.

Franklin would go on to score the final run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning to capture the 7-0 victory.

Junior Rachel Wehrman (Fort Loramie/Minster) got the call for DC in game one pitching 3.2 innings surrendering six runs on five hits.

Defiance returns to action Wednesday, April 25 as they travel to Anderson, Ind. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 3:30 pm.