Softball drops four tough games to begin season

Edwardsville, Ill. - The Defiance softball team opened the 2023 season with four tough losses as the Yellow Jackets fell to Carroll, Millikin, Monmouth, and Illinois College.

Game one vs Carroll (L, 3-0)

• The Yellow Jackets fell to 0-1 and Carroll improved to 1-0.

• Defiance third baseman Brooke Silcox committed an error in the second inning that allowed the Pioneers to take a 2-0 advantage with both runs being unearned.

• Antoinette Napoli gave Carroll another insurance run in the sixth inning with an RBI single.

• Josilyn Guzman recorded the only hit in the contest for the Yellow Jackets and also stole a base.

• Savannah McCoy threw all six innings and struck out 5 while giving up only one earned run. 

• Grace Bradley went the distance for the Pioneers, allowing only one hit and striking out three.

Game two vs Millikin (L, 6-2)

• Millikin moves improves to 1-0 and the Yellow Jackets fall to 0-2.

• Millikin was ranked #8 in the country.

• Millikin led 2-0 headed into the fourth inning and Marissa Roberts walked to bring in a run that cut the deficit in half.

• An error by Anna Emswiler allowed Lanie Chizmark to score and Millikin would take a 6-1 lead headed to the final inning. 

• Anika Craft, Anna Emswiler, Brooke Silcox, and Marissa Roberts each recorded one hit.

• Defiance got their second hit on an RBI single by Silcox.

• Craft pitched all six innings, allowed 11 hits and six runs, walked two and struck out three.

• Charly Warlow closed the door for Millikin by throwing the final three innings, allowing one hit, and striking out four.

Game three vs Monmouth (L, 6-5 in nine innings)

• Defiance falls to 0-3 and Monmouth improves to 1-2.

• Monmouth struck first to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning.

• Ali Mowen reached on an error and that allowed Anna Emswiler to score as the Yellow Jackets trailed 2-1 after two.

• Defiance trailed 4-1 in the fifth but had an answer. Josilyn Guzman tripled and that scored Brooke Silcox and Marissa Roberts.

• Natalee Cooper reached on an error and Guzman scored to tie the game.

• The teams would go to extra innings tied at four. 

• A triple by Vanessa Wright gave Monmouth a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth. 

• Laney Grimwood singled home Amber Krause to send the game to a ninth inning.

• Kayleigh Cobb smacked an RBI double to give Monmouth the lead again.

• Destiny Coil popped up to end the game and Jessie Leggett was stranded on third.

• Riley Alcorn got the start and threw 4.2 innings.

• Anika Craft was credited with the loss in 4.1 innings and struck out five.

Game four vs Illinois College (L, 2-1)

• Illinois College improves to 1-1 and Defiance falls to 0-4.

• A double by Brooke Loveall gave IC a 1-0 in the second inning.

• In the bottom of the second, Destiny Coil led off with a double and Anna Emswiler put down a sacrifice bunt to move her over to third. Amber Krause and Laney Grimwood struck out to end the inning.

• Defiance tied the game in the third as Brooke Silcox singled home Marissa Roberts.

• Savannah McCoy walked back-to-back batters in the fifth that allowed IC to take a 2-1 lead and that would prove to be the difference in the game.

• Amber Krause, Laney Grimwood, and Kelly Limbaugh were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

Up Next:

• The Yellow Jackets return to the field Monday, March 6, for a doubleheader against Hope College. Game one begins at 3 p.m. at Defiance High School.