Yellow Jackets split a pair of one-run decisions with Heidelberg in home opener
DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College softball team split a pair of one-run decisions with Heidelberg in their home opener Thursday afternoon at Sal Hench Field. The visiting Student Princes rallied in the seventh inning to steal game one 7-6 and the Yellow Jackets held off another late rally by Heidelberg in game two to win 4-3.
Game one (L, 7-6)
Heidelberg (7-9) scored an unearned run in the second on an error by Ali Mowen and added another in the third for a 2-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets (4-11) cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third when Savanah Bergman scored on a two-out single by Payton Mallett. Laney Grimwood was thrown out at home trying to score on the play.
The Yellow Jackets erupted for five runs in the fifth for a 6-2 lead. Anika Craft reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded and Grimwood scored to tie the game at two. DC took the lead when Savannah McCoy hit an infield single with bases loaded. Natalee Cooper also reached on a fielder's choice which scored Mallett and Madison Guggenbiller came through with a two-out, two-run double to give the Yellow Jackets a 6-2 lead.
Heidelberg did not go away quietly and cut the deficit in half in the sixth with a two-run home run. In the seventh, the Student Princes regained the lead by plating three. Riley Alcorn walked the bases loaded and an RBI single scored one run. Heidelberg then scored two runs on two DC errors to take the lead back. The Yellow Jackets were sat down in order with three weak groundouts to end the game.
Riley Alcorn (1-3) was credited with the loss after pitching the final 1.1 innings and allowing three runs with two being earned. Anika Craft started and pitched 5.2 innings while allowing three earned runs to go along with five strikeouts. Grimwood, Mallett, and Craft each had two hits in the game.
Game two (W, 4-3)
With the game scoreless through two innings, both teams scored one run in the third. Berg got an RBI single and Savanah Bergman scored on a sac fly by Payton Mallett.
In the fourth, Savannah McCoy led off with a double but was stranded at third with just one out. McCoy came through in a big way though in the fifth as the Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 4-1 lead. Brooke Silcox reached base on an error to start the inning and sandwiched between two sharply hit line drives was a bunt single by Anika Craft and a walk by Anna Emswiler. With two outs, McCoy hit a long fly ball to deep right center field that caused the Heidelberg center fielders and right fielder to run into one another which led to a bases clearing double.
The Student Princes once again answered however in the sixth. After two pitches resulted in two outs, Heidelberg got four straight singles and scored two in the inning. That marked the end of the line for McCoy and she was relieved by Emma Rodgers who retired all four batters she faced to secure the win for the Yellow Jackets.
Savannah McCoy (1-5) earned her first win of the year and went 5.2 innings, allowed three earned runs and struck out one. Emma Rodgers pitched the final 1.1 innings to earn her first career save.
McCoy had a huge game at the plate with three doubles and three RBIs. Anika Craft added two more hits again in game two. Avery Roever recorded her first career hit in the game as well.
Up Next
With Saturday's home doubleheader against Asbury being canceled, the Yellow Jackets are scheduled to play a doubleheader on the road at Albion on Sunday, March 24. Game one begins at 1 p.m.
