Softball splits with MSJ on Senior Day

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College softball team split a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader with the Mount St. Joseph University Lions Saturday afternoon. Saturday was also senior day for the Yellow Jackets and the five seniors Natalee Cooper, Brooke Silcox, Riley Alcorn, Savannah McCoy, and Laney Grimwood were recognized prior to the game.

MSJ used a big first inning in game one to take game one 9-3 and the Yellow Jackets used a big third inning in game two to win 9-6. The Yellow Jackets improve to 13-21 overall with an 8-7 mark in HCAC and the Lions finish conference play with a record of 12-6 and overall record of 22-14. 

Game one - Mount St. Joseph 9, Defiance 3

The Lions took advantage of two DC errors to plate six runs in the first inning and took control of the game right from the get go. Three of the six runs in the inning were unearned. The Lions returned the favor with an error of their own in the third inning as the Yellow Jackets cut the lead in half. Ali Mowen singled through the left side to put DC on the board for the first time and Madison Guggenbiller followed with a two-run single. Savannah McCoy was hit by a pitch to reload the bases but Natalee Cooper popped out to end the inning.

The Yellow Jackets got two on again in the fourth inning and threatened to score but were unable to push anymore runs across. The Lions took advantage of another DC error and scored one unearned run in the sixth and tacked on two more in the seventh to take their six-run lead back. Mowen singled with two outs in the seventh and Guggenbiller struck out to end the game.

McCoy (3-8) started and took the loss on the mound pitching just 0.2 innings allowing six runs but only three were earned. Anika Craft pitched the final 6.1 innings and struck out four while allowing three runs with just two being earned. 

Craft, Guggenbiller, and Mowen finished with two hits each and Guggenbiller led the team in runs batted in with two.

Game two - Defiance 9, Mount St. Joseph 6

After a quick first two innings, the third inning featured nine total runs between the two teams. MSJ took a 1-0 lead with a two-out single. The Yellow Jackets responded with a two-out rally of their own in the bottom of inning as all eight runs were scored with two outs. Anna Emswiler started the inning with a lineout and Savanah Bergman followed with a double and Mowen popped out for the second out of the inning. After that, the inning featured only walks or singles and three of the singles were infield singles. 

The inning in total featured eight runs on seven hits with four walks. The Yellow Jackets took the lead for good on a single by Payton Mallett. Mallett's single was one of only three in the inning to leave the infield. 

The Lions continued to fight back and cut the lead to four by scoring three in the fourth with the big being a two-out, two-run single by a pinch hitter. DC added another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Silcox to extend their lead to 9-4.

The Lions kept fighting and plated two in the sixth to cut the lead to three. With one out in the sixth, Riley Alcorn was pulled for Emma Rodgers and Rodgers recorded back-to-back outs on ground balls to get out of the inning although one of the groundouts did score a run as the DC defense conceded the run for the out. 

The Yellow Jackets looked to pour it on the sixth and were in position to do so but MSJ's center fielder, third basemen, and catcher worked together to throw out Madison Guggenbiller at the plate and the final two outs of the inning were weak popouts by Emswiler and Bergman and DC took their 9-6 lead into the final inning. 

MSJ brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning but the Yellow Jackets sealed the deal on two spectacular defensive plays by senior Laney Grimwood to prevent any possible chaos in the final inning. 

Riley Alcorn (3-6) earned the win on the mound striking out two in 5.1 innings and all six runs allowed were earned. Emma Rodgers closed out the win to earn her second save of the year pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless relief while allowing two hits.

Six different Yellow Jackets drew one walk in the game while Craft, Mallett, and Bergman recorded two hits each. Seven different players recorded at least one RBI. The Yellow Jackets also did not strikeout in the game.

Up Next

The Yellow Jackets conclude the regular season tomorrow with a doubleheader at Anderson and they can officially clinch a spot in the conference tournament tomorrow as well. Game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Raven Softball field.