Softball loses two tight games in Kentucky to conclude Pioneer Classic
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. - The Defiance College softball team dropped two close games Sunday afternoon to wrap up the Pioneer Classic. In game one, UW-Stout defeated DC 3-1 and in game two the Yellow Jackets fell 3-2 to Wartburg.
Game one vs. UW-Stout
With the game tied at zero in the bottom of the third, the Blue Devils (13-7) took advantage of an error by Payton Mallett to score two unearned runs to take a 2-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets (3-10) answered right back in the fourth inning when Laney Grimwood hit a home run to put the Yellow Jackets on the board to make it a 2-1 game. The home run was DC's first of the year. Brooke Silcox answered Grimwood's home run with a single and with two outs in the inning, Madison Guggenbiller flew out to end the scoring threat as Silcox and Natalee Cooper were stranded on base.
UW-Stout added an insurance run in the sixth with a two-out RBI single to reclaim their two-run lead, 3-1. In the top of the seventh, the Yellow Jackets were retired in order to end the game.
Silcox was the only Yellow Jacket with multiple hits in the game. Riley Alcorn (1-2) got the start on the mound and pitched 2.2 innings and allowed two runs but both were unearned and struck out three. Anika Craft came on in relief and pitched the final 3.1 innings and struck out five.
Game two vs. Wartburg
The Knights (6-7) scored an unearned run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead and scored one more in the second inning to extend their lead to 2-0. With two outs in the bottom of the second, Anika Craft scored on a double by Madison Guggenbiller to put DC on the board to make it a 2-1 game.
Carlee Young scored on an RBI single by Brooke Silcox to tie the game at two in the bottom of the third. With Savanah Bergman on third with just one out, the Yellow Jackets were unable to push the go ahead run across as Anna Emswiler and Anika Craft were retired to end the inning.
Wartburg, just like the Yellow Jackets, answered in the next inning to reclaim the lead with a two-out RBI single. A one out single in the bottom of the seventh by Madison Guggenbiller ended a string of 10 straight Yellow Jackets being retired at the plate. DC was unable to put together a late rally though as Ali Mowen reached on a fielder's choice and Payton Mallett struck out to end the game.
Savannah McCoy started on the mound, pitched 6.0 innings, allowed one earned run and struck out six. Emma Rodgers (0-1) was credited with the loss in 1.0 inning of work while allowing two hits and one run, with the one run being unearned. Guggenbiller was the only Yellow Jacket with multiple hits in the game as she and Silcox each had an RBI. Carlee Young also recorded her first collegiate hit.
The Yellow Jackets play their home opener this Tuesday (Mar. 19) at Sal Hench Field against Heidelberg. The doubleheader action begins at 3 p.m.