Guggenbiller’s game-winning hit lifts Yellow Jackets to upset win over #23 Transylvania

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Defiance College softball team snapped a 15-game losing streak against the Transylvania University Pioneers with a thrilling comeback win in extra innings in game two of Saturday's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) doubleheader down in Kentucky. The Pioneers took game one in five innings with the Yellow Jackets bouncing back to take game two in nine innings. 

Transylvania moves to 12-2 in the HCAC and 25-8 overall. The Yellow Jackets are now 6-6 in the HCAC and 11-20 overall. 

Game one - Transylvania 11, Defiance 3 (5 innings)

Defensive struggles hurt the Yellow Jackets in the first game as eight of Transylvania's 11 runs in the game were unearned as DC had four defensive miscues on the diamond. The Pioneers scored five runs in the first inning and all five were unearned as Payton Mallett was credited with a fielding error in the inning. 

The Yellow Jackets got on the board in the third inning. Laney Grimwood led off the inning with a walk and both Anika Craft and Brooke Silcox singled to load the bases. Mallett continued the hitting and drove in two with a two-run single down the right field line to make it a 5-2 game. Ali Mowen followed with another single to reload the bases, however, TU starter Carlee Jeter got out of the jam by striking out Madison Guggenbiller, Savannah McCoy, and Anna Emswiler to get out of the jam. Four of DC's eight hits in the game came in the inning. 

The Pioneers answered with four runs in the third and two of them were unearned. Transylvania in total in the game scored in four of the five innings and clinched the walk-off victory in the fifth with a dropped fly ball by left fielder Savanah Bergman. DC's third run of the came in the fourth inning when Mallett reached on a fielder's choice and Grimwood scored on the play. 

McCoy (3-7) started on the mound and was credited with the loss, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing nine runs with only two being earned. Riley Alcorn also pitched 2.1 innings and allowed two runs with just one earned and struck out two. 

Silcox finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and Mallett tallied two hits and drove in all three runs. Grimwood drew two walks and Craft finished with a hit and a walk. 

Game two - Defiance 5, Transylvania 4 (9 innings)

Just like game one, Transylvania jumped out to a quick lead, scoring two in the first and one in the second for a 3-0 lead. The resilient Yellow Jackets continued fighting against Transylvania's Sophie Moshos and tied the game at 3 on two home runs. Madison Guggenbiller hit a solo blast in the fifth to put the Yellow Jackets on the board and Payton Mallett tied it at three on a home run to left center in the sixth.

Anika Craft was able to keep the speedy and pesky Pioneer offense off the board after the first two innings to keep the Yellow Jackets within striking distance. Laney Grimwood scored on a sac fly from Brooke Silcox to give DC their first lead of the game, 4-3, in the top of the eighth. Transylvania tied the game at four in the bottom of the inning in the same way, with a sacrifice fly. 

With Natalee Cooper on third base with one out in the ninth inning, Guggenbiller smacked a ground-rule double to center field to give DC the lead back at 5-4. The Yellow Jackets were unable to add anymore as Savannah McCoy and Savanah Bergman struck out to end the inning. With the tying run on third and winning run at the plate with one out, Craft was clutch on the mound by striking out the next two batters to secure the win for the Yellow Jackets, a huge victory for them in a very tight HCAC race. 

Guggenbiller and Mallett were the only players with multiple hits in the game and Ali Mowen was the only batter to not strike out in the game as Translyvania's Moshos struck out 19 in the game. 

Craft improved to 7-3 on the mound with the complete game effort striking out five and allowing four runs with just two earned and did not walk a batter. 

Up Next

The Yellow Jackets return home and host Manchester on Wednesday, May 1 for Staff and Faculty Day at Sal Hench Field. Game one begins at 3:30 p.m.