Softball drops HCAC Tournament opener against Franklin

Lexington, Ky. - On the campus of Transylvania University, the Defiance College softball dropped their fifth straight game overall and third straight to Franklin, as the Grizzlies topped the Yellow Jackets 7-2 in Thursday's HCAC Tournament opener.

Franklin started the scoring in this one, getting one run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly. The Yellow Jackets responded and tied the game in the second when Destiny Coil reached on a dropped fly ball and Josilyn Guzman scored on the play. 

Defiance continued their momentum and took a 2-1 lead in the third inning. After Natalee Cooper led off the inning with a fly out, Marissa Roberts, Brooke Silcox, and Ali Mowen followed with singles. Silcox was out on interference on Mowen's single, so instead of having the bases loaded and one out, the Yellow Jackets had first and second with two outs. Guzman then stepped to the plate and smacked a double down the left field line and Roberts would score on the play.

From that point on, it was all Franklin. Just like the Grizzlies did on Sunday, they were able to string together hits and base runners against Riley Alcorn. The first three batters of the fourth inning singled and Franklin would score six runs on six hits to blow the game open. All six hits and runs were charged to Alcorn. Anika Craft came in and got the third out of the inning to prevent any more damage.

Out of the final 10 DC batters in the game, Destiny Coil and Laney Grimwood would be the only ones to reach as the Yellow Jackets were held scoreless the final four innings.

Riley Alcorn (L, 1-4) went 3.2 innings, scattered nine hits and allowed seven earned runs and struck out two. Anika Craft pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowed two hits and struck out one. Guzman was the only batter to have a multi-hit game.

The Yellow Jackets will kick start the action tomorrow morning against #5 seed Hanover in an elimination game. First pitch will be at 10 a.m.