Calvin and Spalding tops Yellow Jackets on day one of Pioneer Classic
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. - The Defiance College softball team dropped both games on day one of the Pioneer Classic Saturday afternoon. In game one, #24 Calvin topped the Yellow Jackets 8-0 in a mercy run rule shortened game in six innings. In game two, the Yellow Jackets fell to Spalding 4-3 in eight innings.
Game one vs. Calvin
The Knights (11-2) scored seven runs in the first three innings to take a commanding 7-0 lead before scoring one more in the sixth to end the game early.
Laney Grimwood, Savannah McCoy, and Ali Mowen each had one hit in the game to account for DC's three of the game. McCoy and Mowen singled with one out in the second inning but could not push a run across as Emma Rodgers and Savanah Bergman struck out to end the inning.
Grimwood led off the sixth inning with a single, but the Yellow Jackets (3-8) were unable to mount a rally as Anna Emswiler struck out to end the inning with runners on second and third. Anika Craft (2-1) started and took the loss while allowings seven runs with just three earned and struck out four. Riley Alcorn pitched 2.2 innings of relief and struck out two.
Game two vs. Spalding
The Eagles (4-8) and Yellow Jackets were scoreless for the first three innings before Spalding scored an unearned run in the top of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. Spalding tacked on another run in the fifth for a 2-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets answered in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game. Payton Mallett started the inning with a double. With runners on second and third with one out, Natalee Cooper smacked an RBI single to left field which scored both Mallett and Savannah McCoy to tie the game.
McCoy then worked out of a jam in the sixth to keep the game tied at two. Both teams got a runner to second base in the seventh inning but could not capitalize and the game went to extras tied at two apiece.
With the Yellow Jackets nearly working out of the eighth inning jam, Spalding got a two out, two run single to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead. DC then looked to answer in the bottom of the eighth and tried to mount a rally but came up just short. With runners on second and third and two out, Payton Mallett sent a single up the middle and Avery Roever scored on the play but Laney Grimwood was only able to advance to third base. Next batter up Savannah McCoy went down swinging to end the game.
McCoy (0-5) got the start on the mound and gave up four runs with just two being earned and struck out five. Grimwood and Mallett each had two hits in the game.
The Yellow Jackets play UW-Stout and Wartburg tomorrow (March 17) at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to wrap up the Pioneer Classic.