Gostomsky Throws No-Hitter as DC Splits a Pair in Florida

KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- The Defiance College softball team began their season at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. by splitting a pair of contests. DC fell to Montclair State (N.J.) University, 5-2, in the opener, but were powered by a no-hitter from freshman Brooke Gostomsky (Dayton/Covington) to an 8-0 victory against Penn State-Altoona in the nightcap.

Montclair State took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of  the first inning. The Yellow Jackets responded by putting three of the first four batters on base, capping it off with a run-scoring single from senior Megan Warren (Mason), scoring sophomore Jordan Osborne (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) to tie the game at 1-1. 

The Red Hawks scored two more in the second and another in the third to move ahead, 4-1, but a solo home run from sophomore Jackie Hartman (Parma/Padua Pranciscan) cut the deficit to 4-2. Montclair would add a run in the fifth, and shut down the Defiance offense to bring home a 5-2 victory in the season opener for each team. 

On the mound, junior Sarah Kaya (Lorain/Clearview) threw 2.1 innings, giving up four runs (three earned), five hits, and five walks while striking out three battoer and was also given the loss. Sophomore Jamie Kimbler (Huber Heights/Wayne) came on in relief, throwing 4.2 innings of two-hit softball, giving up an unearned run with two strikeouts.

Osborne and Warren each went two-for-three to lead DC from the plate in game one.

The Yellow Jackets started quickly in the nightcap, with a triple from Osborne, followed by a sacrifce fly from junior Katy Kuhn (Celina) to put DC ahead, 1-0, in the first inning. In the second inning, Osborne hit her second triple of the game, this one coming with two runners on base, and later scored on an Emily Denhard (Troy, Mich./Kolbe Academy) groundout to increase the DC lead to 4-0 through two frames.

Hartman opened up inning number three with her second dinger of the day, another solo shot, giving Defiance a 5-0 lead.

Junior Keri Hupp (Louisville) opened the sixth inning with a double, and pinch-runner Jessica Mello (Vermilion) scored on a Haley Patty (Bradford) single to put the Yellow Jackets ahead, 6-0. Patty would later score on a groundout by freshman Mariah Huff (Galloway/Mogadore) to make it a 7-0 game.

Warren opened the seventh by taking advantage of an error by the third baseman, advancing to second base. She advanced to third on a base-hit by Gostomsky, and scored on a fielder's choice by sophomore Michaela Bauer (Hicksville) to give Defiance an 8-0 victory.

The highlight of game two was Gostomsky, who threw a no-hitter in her first career collegiate start. Gostomsky advanced to 1-0 on the season, striking out six Nittany Lions and walking just one batter. Gostomsky also went two-for-four from the dish with two singles.

All in all, Defiance finished with four batters garnering multiple hits, led by Osborne who went two-for-three with two triples, two RBI, and two runs scored. Hartman also finished the afternoon two-for-four with that solo home run, while Hupp went two-for-four with two singles and a run scored.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Monday, Mar. 6 with two more contests in the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. They will open against Lakeland (Wisc.) College at 9 a..m., and wrap up the day with an 11:15 a.m. tilt with Beloit (Wisc.) College.