Softball splits with HCAC foe Anderson at home

DEFIANCE, Ohio- The Defiance College softball team host Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Anderson University for a doubleheader on Tuesday evening that led to a split with the Ravens. The Yellow Jackets cruised to a 6-2 victory in game one before dropping game two by a 4-3 score. 

In the opening game, Defiance scored early and often as Josilyn Guzman led off the bottom of the second inning with a single and later stole second, and scored off a single up the middle from Taylor Biggs. 

Kalin Hubble contributed to the Yellow Jackets 2-0 lead as she singled to right-center and was brought home by Brooke Silcox in the third inning. The same duo struck again the bottom of the fifth inning as Hubble reached on a Raven error, and Silcox doubled to left to give the Purple and Gold a 3-0 advantage. 

Defiance tacked on a couple of insurance runs in the sixth as they led off with back-to-back singles and a double to center field from Marissa Roberts put the Yellow Jackets up 5-0. Hubble drove in the final Defiance run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left, 6-0. 

The Raven earned two runs in the top of the seventh, but Defiance prevailed with the 6-2 victory. Silcox led the Yellow Jacket offense finishing 2 for 3 with two RBI. 

Biggs (6-7) threw another complete game for DC, surrendering two runs on 11 hits and struck out ten. The senior also went 2 for 3 at the plate with one RBI. 

In game two, Defiance struck first, taking an early 1-0 lead, but Anderson quickly responded and took the 2-1 advantage by the third inning. 

The away side extended their lead to 4-1 by the top of the seventh inning, but Defiance rallied in the bottom of the inning to tack on two runs.  Sophie Moller drove in a run with a single to left-center, and Silcox followed up with an infield single to load the bases. Guzman put the ball in play, up the middle to make it a 4-3 game, but Anderson was able to hang on for the win. 

Savannah McCoy (3-3) started in the circle for game two and pitched 6.0 innings. The freshman allowed seven hits while striking out six. Jennifer Kaffenbarger came in for relief to face five batters in the seventh, and Biggs closed out the game. 

With the split, Defiance moves to 10-11-1 overall on the season and 2-2 in HCAC play. The Yellow Jackets are scheduled to be back in action on Saturday, April 10, as they travel to Rose-Hulman for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm.