Offensive outburst propels softball to high-scoring split

Memphis, TN- The Defiance College softball team pulled off an high-scoring split to end the Rhodes College Invite. In game one, the Yellow Jackets fell 9-7 against the Griffins, and in the nightcap, Defiance came out victorious with a 15-5 win over Rhodes. 

In game one, Defiance got off to a slow start giving up three runs in the first inning, and Fontbonne would go up 6-0 by the third. In the fourth, the Yellow Jackets offense came alive as Kalin Hubble (Anderson, Ind. / Anderson) doubled down the left-field line, to set the stage for senior Brooke Gostomsky (Covington, Ohio/ Covington) to hit a two-run home run over the left-center fence. The next at-bat saw Jen Nashalsky (Galloway, Ohio/ Hilliard) draw a walk to bring Sophie Moller (Pickerington, Ohio/ North) to the plate to hit yet another two-run home run to put the Purple and Gold within two, 6-4. 

Defiance had another big inning in the fifth as Nashalsky came up the plate and singled to right to put two more runs on the board. Defiance would tack on one more run in the fifth inning, but errors sought too much as the Yellow Jackets suffered a 9-7 loss. 

In the nightcap, the Purple and Gold scored first as Hubble homered to center field to put Defiance up 1-0 in the third inning. The Yellow Jackets would put up two more runs in the third as Nashlasky singled to left field to give Defiance a 3-0 lead. 

The Lynxes looked to rally back as they scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning. DC responded in the fifth inning as Hubble singled right and Arianna Richards (Covington, Ohio/ Covington) laid down a bunt for a hit to bring Gostomsky to the plate. The senior deemed clutch yet again, as she homered to center field, to put the Purple and Gold up, 6-4. 

Rhodes would answer back with one run in the bottom of the fifth, making the score 6-5. The scoring continued as Defiance plated one run in the sixth inning off of a Lynx miscue, 7-5. The Yellow Jackets would seal the victory with eight runs in the top seventh inning on five hits to make the final score 15-5. 

The Purple and Gold were led on the day by Gostomsky, who went 5 for 8 with two doubles, two home runs, and 6 RBI.

Sydney Zeuch (Mason, Ohio / Mount Notre Dame) will get the win for the Yellow Jackets throwing five complete innings, giving up six hits and five runs while striking out five. Taylor Biggs (Cincinnati, Ohio/ Oak Hills) closed it out on the mound giving up one hit in 2 innings of work. 

Defiance sits 1-3 on the season and will return to action on Sunday, March 8, as they travel to Florida to compete at the Spring Games. The Yellow Jackets will face Penn St. Brandywine at 9:30 am and Simmons University at 12:15 pm.