Softball wraps up the week in Florida against tough competition

CLERMONT, Fla.- The Defiance College softball team wrapped up the week in Florida, playing tough competition. The Yellow Jackets fell 3-2 in a thrilling nine-inning game against Carthage College and a 12-2 loss to Case Western Reserve University in the nightcap.

Carthage jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, and it wasn't until the top of the fifth when Rylee Hershberger (Bremen, Ind. / Bremen) doubled to left-center to score Hali Geraci (Springboro, Ohio / Springboro) tying the game at 1-1.

The Yellow Jackets would score first in the top of the ninth inning as McKenzie Baker (Bellville, Ohio / Clear Fork) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move pinch-runner Alivia Kruczkowski (Holland, Ohio / Springfield) to third. Jen Nashalsky would then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Kruczkowski and put the Purple and Gold up 2-1.

The Lady Reds would plate two runs in the bottom of the nine, as Defiance falls 3-2 in a thrilling extra-inning game.

In the nightcap, the Yellow Jackets fell to an early seven-run deficit by the top of the fourth inning, and Case Western Reserve University would add another five runs in the top of the fifth.

Defiance did not go down without a fight, as Josilyn Guzman (Woodhaven, Mich. / Woodhaven) singled to the right side to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. Brooke Gostomsky (Covington, Ohio / Covington) was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. The next at bat Kalin Hubble (Anderson, Ind. / Anderson) would reach by way of a Spartan error, loading the bases. Sophie Moller (Pickerington, Ohio / Pickerington North) then singled up the middle bring two runs across the plate.

The deficit sought too much fro the Yellow Jackets suffering a 12-2 loss in the final game of their spring break trip. In Florida, Defiance went 4-6 and now sits 5-9 overall on the season.

With the continued public health threat of COVID-19, the Jackets and all other Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference members have suspended athletic activities for a minimum of two weeks.