Softball season comes to an end with HCAC Tournament loss to Hanover

Lexington, Ky. - For the second consecutive year on the campus of Transylvania University, the Defiance College softball team failed to win a game in the conference tournament. This morning, the Hanover Panthers eliminated the Yellow Jackets from the tournament and ended DC's season with a 9-1 win in five innings. 

Just like yesterday, the Yellow Jackets found themselves trailing early in the first inning. Anika Craft walked the leadoff hitter and that would be one of two walks in the inning. The Panthers would score three runs on three hits in the first to take a 3-0 lead and the big blow was a two-out, two-run single by Cadence Northern. 

The Yellow Jackets were able to answer with one run in their first at-bat. Marissa Roberts started the inning with a bunt single and would score on a two-out single by Josilyn Guzman.

Another six-run inning doomed the Yellow Jackets again in this one. The Panthers would score six runs on six hits in the fourth inning to put the run rule in play. 

In their final opportunity to potentially extend the game, the Yellow Jackets got a one-out single from Anna Emswiler but were unable to put a rally together as Laney Grimwood and Amber Krause were retired to end the game. 

It was a tough outing for Anika Craft (L,9-9) who gave up nine runs on 10 hits including five walks in 3.2 innings of work. Riley Alcorn allowed only one hit and struck out one in 1.1 innings. Brooke Silcox had the only other hit of the game for the Yellow Jackets. 

Hanover's Lauren Beaman defeated Defiance for the second time this season.

The Panthers would do most of their damage with two outs as five of the nine runs scored came with two down. 

The Yellow Jackets end their season with an overall record of 16-24 in and a 7-9 mark in the HCAC.