Defiance falls to late rally in doubleheader loss at Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets Softball team fell to a late rally as part of a doubleheader loss at Kalamazoo on Monday afternoon in a non-conference tilt.

In game one, the Yellow Jackets fell to Kalamazoo 4-2. Defiance took an early lead with a run in the top of the first to go ahead of the Hornets.

Maggie Neanen started off the game with a lead-off walk and after moving to second on a sacrifice, she came around to score the opening run on a Makayla McAvoy double.

Defiance stranded one in the first and then stranded the bases loaded in the second inning without scoring a run. Defiance generated more offense in the third and stranded two more base runners in the third without scoring a run.

Kalamazoo capitalized on their hits in the bottom of the third and went on to score four runs to take the lead.

The Yellow Jackets answered back and scored in the top of the fourth with a bases loaded walk. However, Defiance was unable to score anymore, stranding the bases loaded for the second time in the game.

Defiance continued to threaten in the fifth and seventh innings, but were unable to score. In both of those innings, Defiance stranded the bases loaded. The Yellow Jackets did it a total of four times in the game.

Game two fell differently for both teams. This time, it was the Hornets who scored first, but the game remained scoreless into the fourth inning. 

Defiance had just one hit in the early innings, but threatened to score a few times with good plate appearances that included three walks. However, DC failed to score, stranding three base runners in scoring position and five base runners total.

Kalamazoo struck first after a lead-off double in the bottom of the fourth that was followed by a RBI single two at bats later. Despite three hits, Defiance held the Hornets to just one run.

Two innings later, Defiance struck with two runs to jump to the lead at 2-1 in the sixth.

Kali Campbell started the scoring rally with a one-out walk. Tori Plummer pinch ran for Campbell and then immediately scored as Macy Ferrall doubled to left center, tying the game at one.

In the next at bat, Megan Warren singled up the middle, allowing Ferrall to score from second, which gave the Yellow Jackets a 2-1 lead.

Sandra Hubler followed up with a single but was caught trying to stretch her hit to a double. That ended the Yellow Jackets threat for more runs as Brittany Shough popped out to first base, ending the inning.

Defiance held Kalamazoo scoreless in the bottom of the sixth and nearly added more runs in the top of the seventh. The Yellow Jackets were looking to add insurance runs and but a hard hit ball by Makayla McAvoy went straight to first base and doubled up Neanen.

The momentum of getting out of a jam propelled Kalamazoo, who then lead-off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single. Two batters later Kalamazoo looked to just tie the game with a double that scored a run to tie the game. However, the play continued as a throwing error allowed the base runner to reach third and head home for the winning run in walk-off fashion.

Defiance will look to rebound on Tuesday with a make-up doubleheader at Heidelberg. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in Tiffin, Ohio.