Team effort in the nightcap earns softball a split

LEESBURG, Fla. - It was a full team effort for the Yellow Jackets as they rallied in the nightcap with Olivet College, erasing a four-run deficit en route to 16-5 victory to earn the split on Wednesday afternoon at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex. 

Defiance dropped the opening game to Millikin University as the Big Blue scored 10 runs on thirteen hits and two errors. The Yellow Jackets put up two runs in the bottom of the third as they strung together hits, resulting in both Marissa Roberts (Warren, Ohio / LaBrae) and Kalin Hubble (Anderson, Ind. / Anderson) tacking on RBIs. Late in the game, Defiance capitalized off of Millikin misuses adding two runs to the board, but the deficit was too much for the Yellow Jackets to come within striking distance, suffering the 10-4 loss in game one.  

In the nightcap, the Yellow Jackets found themselves trailing early as Olivet plated four runs in the bottom of the second inning.

However, Defiance rallied with two outs in the top half of the third inning as sophomore Sophie Moller (Pickerington, Ohio / Pickerington North) singled to left-center to bring Hubble and Arianna Richards (Covington, Ohio / Covington) around to score. Mackenzie Baker (Bellville, Ohio / Clear Fork) then roped a 2 RBI doubled down the left-field line to tie the score at 4-4. Rylee Hershberger (Bremen, Ind. / Bremen) traded places the next at-bat with a double to left field to score Baker, putting the Yellow Jackets up 5-4 heading into the bottom of the inning. The Comets responded with a run off of Defiance miscues to tie the game at 5-5. 

In the top of the fourth, Hubble would provide a clutch double to left-center field, putting the Yellow Jackets up, 7-5. The next at bat, Brooke Gostomsky (Covington, Ohio / Covington) would clear the bases as she blasted a ball over the left-field fence for her third homerun of the season. Gostomsky's homer would put the Purple and Gold up 9-5. 

After a quick three outs, the scoring frenzy continued as Kaylee Dunkle (Stoutsville, Ohio / Canal Winchester) led off the inning with a single to left field. Roberts then reached first base on an Olivet throwing error to move pinch-runner Stevie Brooks (Leipsic, Ohio / Leipsic) to third. Hubble would come to the plate with bases loaded and singled to center field plating Brooks, 10-5. 

Gostomsky, then singled to left field to score Roberts (11-5), setting up pinch hitter, Jada Lopez (Leipsic, Ohio / Leipsic), as she singled to third base, scoring Richards (12-5). Moller came to the plate with bases still loaded, to single to shortstop, putting the Jackets up 13-5. 

Baker brought in two more runs, at the top of the fifth, making the score 15-5. The final run of the game came from freshman Camryn Bekkering (Portland, Mich. / Dewitt), who singled to left field to score Moller. 

After the offensive inning from Defiance, Hali Geraci (Springboro, Ohio / Springboro ) turned a clean double play to secure the Yellow Jackets 16-5 victory in five-inning, as DC earned a split on the day. 

Offensively a swarm of Yellow Jackets showed success against the Comets as Baker went 3 for 4 with four RBI, a double and a run. Hubble went 4 for 4 with three RBI, a double, and three runs. While Gostomsky went 2 for 4 with three RBI, a homerun and two runs scored. Lastly, Moller went 3 for 4 with three RBI, a stolen base, and two runs scored. 

In the circle, Taylor Biggs (Cincinnati, Ohio / Oak Hills) pitched all five innings, allowing five runs on six hits, while striking out four. 

Defiance now sits 4-6 overall and will be back in action on Thursday, March 12, as they take on Nebraska Wesleyan at 11:15am and Carnegie Mellon at 1:45pm.