Softball drops two games against HCAC foe Manchester

North Manchester, Ind. - The Yellow Jackets could only manage three total runs and seven total hits Wednesday afternoon against Manchester. That, along with six total errors hurt as the Yellow Jackets were swept by the Spartans. Defiance has now dropped four straight, and fell to 13-17 overall and 4-4 in the HCAC. Manchester improves to 18-10 overall and 5-1 in the HCAC.

Game 1

Final: Manchester 5, Defiance 2

Manchester would score five unanswered runs to take game one.

Savannah McCoy and Kaitlyn Carr exchanged zeros for the first three innings. McCoy had to work around an error from Brooke Silcox in the second inning but got out of it quickly as the runner was erased when Silcox, Laney Grimwood, and Amber Krause combined for a double play. 

Brooke Silcox led off the fourth inning with a single and Josilyn Guzman followed with a home run to put the Yellow Jackets up 2-0. The lead would not last as Manchester answered with two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. The Spartans took advantage of errors from McCoy and Guzman.

Guzman grounded out to end the fifth inning, leaving two runners on base. Manchester would not score in the fifth as McCoy struck out two in the inning.

Manchester plated three runs in the fifth and with one out, Riley Alcorn came in to relieve McCoy. McCoy walked in a run to make it 3-2 and Erin Singleton followed with a two-run single. Alcorn prevented any further damage by retiring the two batters she faced.

Grimwood, Krause, and Kelly Limbaugh were retired in order in the seventh. 

Silcox finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and Guzman had the only other hit for the Yellow Jackets in the game. Anika Craft appeared as a pinch hitter and drew the only walk of the game.

Savannah McCoy (L, 5-8) took the loss and went 5.1 innings, allowed three earned runs and struck out three. 

Kaitlyn Carr (W, 9-3) pitched a complete game for Manchester, allowed two earned runs and struck out four. Erin Singleton had two RBIs.

Game 2

Final: Manchester 3, Defiance 1

An error by Kelly Limbaugh allowed the Spartans to plate an unearned run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

The 1-0 lead would hold until the fourth inning when Brooke Silcox singled to bring home Anika Craft. Like game one, Manchester responded in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead. An error by Ali Mowen allowed Izzy Dittmar to score. 

Manchester would plate another unearned run in the fifth inning when an error by Silcox allowed Brianna Morrow to score. All three runs by Manchester in the game were unearned. 

The Yellow Jackets tried to rally in the sixth. Marissa Roberts tripled with two outs but Brooke Silcox lined out to end the inning. Josilyn Guzman, Lily Linke, and Mowen were set down in order in the seventh.

Anika Craft (L, 7-7) took the tough loss for Defiance, allowing three runs with zero being earned and striking out five. Silcox, Mowen, and Roberts each had one hit. 

Julianne Gosnell (W, 5-3) went 7.0 innings for Manchester, did not walk or strike out a batter, scattered three hits and did not allow an earned run. Three Spartans had one hit each.

The Yellow Jackets begin an eight-game homestand Saturday when Hanover visits Sal Hench Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.