Softball falls short in HCAC action against MSJ

CINCINNATI, Ohio- The Defiance College softball team rounded out the week on the road as they traveled to Mount St. Joseph University on Friday evening for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader. Despite a pair of Yellow Jacket home runs in game one, Defiance fell short by a 5-4 score before being held scoreless in the nightcap, falling 3-0. 

In the opening game, Defiance jumped to an early 2-0 lead as junior Sophie Moller hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning. Kalin Hubble then hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning, and DC manufactured another run to take the 4-0 advantage. 

The Lions responded with a three-run bottom half of the inning to make it a one-run ball game, 4-3. Mount St. Joseph was able to add two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take game one by a 5-4 score. 

Defiance registered six hits, while Mount St. Joseph posted nine, and each team was guilty of one error throughout the game. 

Taylor Biggs (6-11) pitched 6.0 complete innings surrendering five runs on nine hits and two walks. 

In the nightcap, the sides remained in a scoreless duel until the third inning when the Lions took advantage of a Yellow Jacket miscue and plated two runs to take a 2-0 lead. Mount St. Joseph would add an insurance run in the fifth inning to take the 3-0 win over Defiance. 

Moller went 1 for 2 in game two with a single and a walk, while freshman Rylee George registered the only other hit for the Purple and Gold late in the game. 

On the mound for the Jackets, Savannah McCoy (3-6) threw a complete game allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits and three walks. 

The Yellow Jackets drop to 10-19-1 overall on the season and 2-6 in the HCAC standings. Defiance is slated to return to action on Monday, April 26, as they travel to Manchester University for a pair of HCAC games. Game one is scheduled for 3:30 pm in North Manchester, Indiana.