Bauer, Hubble Homer to Lead Softball to Sweep of Rose-Hulman

TERRE HAUTE, IND. - The Defiance College softball team swept Rose-Hulman on Saturday afternoon in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action at the Rose-Hulman Softball field. DC took game one 8-5 and captured game two by a score of 9-5.

Senior Michaela Bauer (Hicksville) and freshman Kalin Hubble (Anderson, Ind.) led the Yellow Jackets with a homerun a piece.

The Yellow Jackets drew first blood in game one with the Figthin' Engineers in the top of the third inning as junior Brooke Gostomsky (Dayton/Covington) doubled to left field scoring senior Jordan Osborne (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes).

Rose-Hulman responded in the bottom half of the inning as they plated two runs on two hits to take the 2-1 advantage.

The bats remained hot for the Purple and Gold as sophomore Emma Perry (Bowling Green/Otsego) connected for a lead off double in the next half inning. Senior Jackie Hartman (Parma/Padua Franciscan) would advance Perry to scoring position with a double up the middle. Hartman and Perry eventually scored as sophomore Hali Geraci (Springboro) provided the clutch hit that placed DC back on top 3-2.

However, the Engineers used a three run fifth inning to regain the lead, 5-3.

The DC offense erupted in the top of the seventh inning as Hubble hit a single to right field. Bauer then advanced Hubble to second before Perry continued to have success at the plate with a double to center, scoring Hubble. Junior Jen Nashalsky (Galloway/Hilliard Bradley) ripped an RBI of her own on the next at bat as she singled to left field scoring another Defiance runner. 

The marathon inning continued for the Yellow Jackets as Hartman tallied an RBI with a shot to the second basemen that scored pinch runner, junior Arianna Richards (Covington). Osborne scored another run for the Purple and Gold before a double to right by Gostomsky sealed the DC 8-5 victory.

Sophomore Taylor Biggs (Cincinnati/Oak Hills) picked up the win in the circle for Defiance as she pitched two scoreless innings. Senior Rachel Wehrman (Fort Loramie/Minster) got the start for DC surrendering six hits.

In game two, the Yellow Jackets buzzed ahead early as they scored three runs and five hits in the top of the first inning. Bauer got it started with a two run homer, 2-0. Nashalsky then delivered a two out single to right field followed by a single from Hartman. Freshman Sophie Moller (Pickerington/North) scored the innings final run in the next at bat, 3-0.

Rose-Hulman made efficient work in the bottom of the third inning as they plated four runs on four hits before adding another run in the bottom of the fifth inning for the 5-4 lead.

But again, the Yellow Jackets remained poise and Hubble delivered in the top of the sixth inning with a three run homer that capped off a five run explosion to push the DC advantage to 9-5.

Wehrman sealed the contest in the circle as she retired the side in the bottom of the seventh inning en route to the win.

Defiance returns to action Wednesday, April 10 as they welcome area rival Bluffton to Sal Hench Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.