Softball sweeps Albion, extends winning streak to seven

Albion, Mich. - Due to unsafe field conditions, Defiance College softball had to travel to Albion to play the scheduled doubleheader against the Britons. The Yellow Jackets still served as the home team and swept the Britons to extend their winning streak to seven games. Defiance improves to 7-11, while Albion drops to 7-8.

Game 1

Final: Defiance 2, Albion 1

Win: Savannah McCoy (2-5)

Loss: Ashley Pion (3-5)

Save: None

In a pitcher's duel, McCoy was slightly better than Albion's Ashley Pion.

McCoy got off to a good start as she struck out two of the first three hitters to begin the game. The offense couldn't use the momentum though as Marissa Roberts, Brooke Silcox, and Josilyn Guzman were retired in order to conclude inning one.

Amber Krause singled in the third inning and stole second with one out, but Anna Emswiler and Roberts both struck out to end the threat.

The Britons got on the board first in the fourth inning when Courtney Ellis launched a solo home run. The Britons would get two more runners on base in the inning but McCoy got out of the jam with only allowing the one run.

The Yellow Jackets tried to put together a two out rally to answer the Albion run. Lily Linke reached on an error and Ali Mowen followed with a single. Anika Craft stepped in as a pinch hitter for McCoy and fouled out to end the inning.

Roberts came through with a clutch two-run single that scored Laney Grimwood and Genesis Brooks to give Defiance the lead. That would prove to be the game winner as the Yellow Jackets took game one, 2-1.

After getting out of the jam in the fourth inning, McCoy retired the final 10 batters she faced to earn the win. Five Yellow Jackets had a hit in the game with Roberts driving in the only two runs of the game.

The Britons tested Brooke Silcox in the seventh inning as each ball was hit to her. Silcox had all three putouts. 

Both McCoy and Pion went the distance. McCoy struck out four compared to Pion's eight. 

Game 2

Final: Defiance 5, Albion 0

Win: Anika Craft (4-4)

Loss: Gabrielle Hirkaway (3-2)

Save: None

Everything picked up right where it left off as the Yellow Jackets plated three runs in the first inning. Craft stole third and scored on a throwing error by Albion catcher Chloe Miller. Brooke Silcox and Lily Linke both had RBI singles in the inning.

Defiance tacked on two more RBI singles, one in the second inning and one in the sixth. Marissa Roberts and Savanah Bergman were the contributors. 

Albion's only hit of the game came in the third inning off the bat of Lauren Creon. The Britons tried to put together a rally in that same inning but came up empty. They loaded the bases with one out and Craft retired Courtney Ellis and Megan Maiuri to get out of the jam. 

Striking out Ellis started a string of 13 straight retired by Craft. The streak ended when she walked back-to-back batters in the seventh inning with two outs.

Craft went the distance and struck out 10. Roberts and Josilyn Guzman each had two hits. Alivia Kruczkowski appeared in a game for the first time this season and got her first career plate appearance. 

The Yellow Jackets begin conference play at Rose-Hulman on Saturday. Game one is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.