Yellow Jackets take down Manchester 10-3

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College softball team picked up a big win Thursday afternoon by defeating Manchester 10-3 at Sal Hench Field in a very important HCAC match up. Game two was suspended with the Yellow Jackets leading 4-1 because of weather. 

DC improves to 12-20 overall and 7-6 in conference play and Manchester falls to 18-16 overall with a 7-8 mark in conference play. 

The Spartans scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings to take a 3-0 lead. Manchester's first inning run came on a two-out single and scored their second and third runs on a wild pitch and bases loaded walk. 

With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Yellow Jackets got three straight hits from Ali Mowen, Madison Guggenbiller, and Savannah McCoy to get on the board. Mowen scored on a double from McCoy and Guggenbiller scored on an RBI groundout from Anna Emswiler. DC trailed 3-2 going into the fifth inning. 

Riley Alcorn kept the momentum going in the fifth by setting down the Spartans 1-2-3 with two strikeouts. The DC offense got the bats going again in the fifth and scored eight in the inning to take a commanding 10-3 lead. Laney Grimwood and Anika Craft started the inning with back-to-back hits and Grimwood scored the game-tying run when Brooke Silcox reached on a fielder's choice. The throw from second base to home was not in time which allowed Grimwood to score. 

Emswiler, Mowen, Silcox, Grimwood and McCoy all had RBI base hits in the inning and Guggenbiller walked with the bases loaded in the inning. The inning in total featured eight runs scored on seven hits. With runners on second and third with two outs, Payton Mallett lined out to the center fielder and that allowed the game to continue. Alcorn sat the visitors down in order in the sixth and Manchester tried to rally in the seventh by getting two on with just one out but Abbi Eberhardt grounded into a double play to end the game.

Riley Alcorn (2-6) got the win on the mound by 3.2 innings of scoreless relief and struck out three while only allowing one hit. Anika Craft got the start and pitched the first 3.1 innings and was tagged for three runs on eight hits with just one strikeout. 

Grimwood, Craft, Silcox, Mowen, and McCoy each finished with two hits and McCoy led the team in RBIs with three. 

Up Next

The Yellow Jackets host Mount St. Joseph at Sal Hench Field on Saturday, May 4 for their final home games of the season. Seniors will be recognized prior to the game.