DC falls in nine-inning thriller to Webster

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Defiance College ends its Space Coast Spring Games trip in a nine-inning thriller against the Webster Gorlocks. Regulation ended in a tie at five, however, DC ultimately fell 9-7 in extra innings. 

Madelynn Vickers started on the mound for the Yellow Jackets (6-12) as the Gorlocks had the first at-bat; their first hitter earned a walk. A ground out to Vickers turned into an RBI as Webster's runner crossed home plate. Two more walks and a single loaded the bases, which set up two more RBIs for the Gorlocks (2-8) as the following two batters each singled. The inning turned to the bottom after a pitching change (Sydney Fackler) led to back-to-back strikeouts. 

Defiance contributed to a busy first inning after leadoff hitter Ali Mowen grounded out to second base. Up next, Anika Craft singled to first and Emma Linn hit a triple to send Craft home and earn the RBI. A wild pitch allowed Linn to score and two strikeouts ended the inning with Webster leading by one. 

Still 3-2 at the start of the third, a fourth RBI for the Gorlocks put another on the board. The Jackets went to work on their turn at-bat with runs from Linn, Morgan Scott and Madison Guggenbiller; RBIs credited to Scott and Kaylee Heath. The score was then 5-4, Defiance. 

At the top of the seventh and Devyn Hamilton pitching, two singles and a DC error allowed a Gorlock to score and tie the game, ultimately sending it to extra innings after the Jackets went three up, three down. 

The eighth inning featured scores from either team leading to the top of the ninth in which Webster scored three runs from three hits to snag the advantage. With Mowen on base, an error by the pitcher on Craft's at-bat allowed her to advance to second, sending Mowen home for an unearned run. Down by two, three-consecutive outs ended the game for Defiance. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Yellow Jackets ended the game with seven hits, seven runs and four RBIs.

• Friday's game became Defiance's first extra-inning contest of the 2025 season. 

• Emma Linn had a productive performance with two runs, a triple, an RBI and a walk in four at-bats. 

• Anika Craft led the day with two hits. 

• Defiance pitchers allowed four walks to Webster's five.

• Devyn Hamilton took her first loss of the season after four innings on the mound. She allowed seven hits, walked none and struck out two batters. 

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets will take a week off before returning to the diamond on March 21 for their conference opener. Cornerstone will travel to Sal Hench Field for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

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