Softball clinches HCAC Tournament berth, loses both to Anderson on Sunday

ANDERSON, Ind. - The Defiance College softball team was swept in an HCAC doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Anderson. The Ravens used a big fifth inning in both games to secure the victories. 

However, despite the losses, the DC softball team has secured a spot in the HCAC Tournament. 

The Yellow Jackets fall to 8-9 in conference play and 13-23 overall. Anderson ends the year with a record of 9-27 overall with a 4-14 mark in conference play. 

Game one - Anderson 10, Defiance 2 (6 innings)

The Yellow Jackets struck first with a two-out RBI single by Laney Grimwood to put DC on top 1-0. Anderson's Molly Buck tied it with a solo home run in the second and the Ravens took the lead for good later in the inning with a two-out, two-run single to give the home squad the lead for good. 

The Yellow Jackets had runners on second and third with one out in the third but were only able to push one across as Payton Mallett scored on an RBI groundout by Savannah McCoy. The Ravens were then able to shut down the DC offense the rest of the way and scored seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings to earn the run rule victory. The Yellow Jackets only managed one hit in the final three innings as the only other hitter to reach base was Savanah Bergman in the sixth inning on an error by the Anderson third basemen. 

McCoy (3-9) got the start on the mound and went 4.0 innings with one strikeout and allowed seven runs, six earned. Riley Alcorn pitched 1.0 innings of relief and struck out one while allowing three runs on five hits. 

Grimwood and Anika Craft recorded two hits each while Grimwood and Mallett recorded one RBI each. 

Game two - Anderson 10, Defiance 6

The Yellow Jackets jumped on Anderson early with two runs in the first inning and looked to be in control of the game, but the Ravens had other plans. Ali Mowen scored on a single by Brooke Silcox and Laney Grimwood added a sacrifice fly in the opening to give DC the early 2-0 lead. Anika Craft scored on a double by Silcox and later scored on an error in the inning as DC opened up their lead to 4-0.

After Anderson scored on a wild pitch, DC answered when Madison Guggenbiller scored on a double by Natalee Cooper to give DC their four-run lead back, 5-1. 

Anderson then put together a big fifth inning by scoring seven runs to take an 8-5 lead. The inning featured eight hits with seven runs scored and all eight hits in the inning were singles as the Ravens knocked DC starter Anika Craft out of the game. Craft did have to work around some traffic in the first four innings but the Anderson offense could not get anything going as all seven of Craft's strikeouts came in the first four innings. 

The orange and black extended their lead to 10-5 in the sixth. DC tried to mount a rally in the seventh as Guggenbiller led off with a single but was quickly erased when Savannah McCoy grounded into a double play. With two outs and no runners on, Natalee Cooper hit the first home run of her career and the game ended when pinch hitter Anna Emswiler grounded out.

Mowen, Guggenbiller, and Silcox led the way with three hits each and Silcox and Cooper each drove in two runs. 

Craft, McCoy, Riley Alcorn, and Emma Rodgers all made a pitching appearance in the game. Craft (7-4) started and was credited with the loss, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing six runs, all earned to go along with seven strikeouts. Rodgers did not record an out and allowed two runs on three hits. Alcorn pitched 1.2 innings and struck out one while allowing one earned run (two total). McCoy recorded one out for her 0.1 innings pitched and allowed one hit. 

Up Next

Stay tuned for further updates regarding the suspended game against Manchester and stay tuned for more information about the upcoming HCAC Tournament.