SB: Adrian edges Yellow Jackets twice on Monday
Adrian, Mich. - The Defiance College softball team saw their winning streak come to an end at nine games as the Yellow Jackets dropped two close, one-run games to Adrian Monday afternoon. The losses drop Defiance to 9-13 and Adrian improves to 14-6.
Game 1
Final: Adrian 2, Defiance 1
Win: Abbi Patton (6-2)
Loss: Savannah McCoy (3-6)
Save: None
In a pitching duel, Adrian's Abbi Patton was slightly better than Savannah McCoy. The Yellow Jackets found themselves down 2-0 in the third inning when Adrian put together a two-out rally. The Bulldogs had two hits in the inning and took advantage of an error by Ali Mowen.
Defiance had two on and two out four different times in the game, but could only manage one lone run in the final inning. In the final inning, Natalee Cooper singled with one out and Marissa Roberts reached on an error. Josilyn Guzman stepped up and laced an RBI single with two outs after Brooke Silcox had lined out in the prior at bat. Lily Linke would strike out to end the game.
Both pitchers walked one and struck out four. Guzman and Silcox had two hits apiece, while Cooper finished 3-for-3. Ali Mowen drew the only walk of the game.
Game 2
Final: Adrian 4, Defiance 3 (9 innings)
Win: Macee Schang (8-4)
Loss: Anika Craft (5-5)
Save: None
Anika Craft and Macee Schang were dealing all game and neither offense could get much going which led to seven straight scoreless innings.
The Yellow Jackets stranded two in the first inning. Brooke Silcox doubled and Josilyn Guzman singled, but Ali Mowen struck out to end the inning. Adrian would answer with one hit in the bottom of the inning and would not score.
The Yellow Jackets had an opportunity to take the lead. Josilyn Guzman led off the top of the sixth with a triple, however, Adrian pitcher Macee Schang would get out of the jam as Ali Mowen, Destiny Coil, and Amber Krause were retired to keep the game scoreless. The score would hold and the two teams entered extra innings tied at zero.
Defiance took the lead in both the eighth and ninth innings but could not close it out as the Bulldogs answered both times.
In the eighth, Marissa Roberts scored on a sac fly by Ali Mowen. The Bulldogs tied the game with a two-out RBI single from Meghan Lupu.
Amber Krause launched her first career home run in the ninth to give Defiance a two-run cushion at 3-1. Following the home run, Natalee Cooper and Anika Craft singled with one out but Schang settled down and retired Brooke Silcox and Marissa Roberts to prevent any further damage. The two runs wouldn't be enough though. Adrian scored three in the bottom of the ninth to earn the 4-3, walk-off win. A walk loaded the bases with two outs and the Bulldogs followed that up with back-to-back RBI singles to earn the win.
Craft pitched 8.2 innings and allowed four runs, two earned and struck out 10. Schang pitched 9.0 innings and allowed three runs, one earned and struck out 11.
Craft also finished the game with two hits. Joining her with two hits were Silcox and Roberts. Laney Grimwood and Natalee Cooper each drew one walk.
The Yellow Jackets will play at Sal Hench Field for the first time this season this coming Saturday against Bluffton. Game one first pitch is set for 1 p.m.