Yellow Jackets split first six games at Space Coast Spring Games

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Defiance Yellow Jackets hit the midpoint of their 12-game slate at the Space Coast Spring Games in Florida by picking up wins over Hastings, Kent State Tuscarawas and Bloomfield through the first three days of action.

The Yellow Jackets stand 3-3 through 6 games and are 4-6 overall on the campaign. Catherine Trebley leads the team in hitting going 7-for-17 with 3 doubles and 4 RBIs followed closely by Allison Stinson hitting 6-for-17 with a pair of doubles and 3 RBIs. Madison Guggenbiller has a team-high 3 extra-base hits with a pair of doubles and homer while batting .444 (4-for-9) to start the week. On the pitching from, Emma Rodgers has made 3 appearances totalling 8.1 innings and one unearned run allowed plus 5 strikeouts. Devyn Hamilton also made 2 starts, going 1-1 with a 2.17 ERA (3 earned runs in 9.2 innings).

Game 1 - Defiance 7, Hastings 3 (Sunday)
The Yellow Jackets broke out the bats to start the trip, pounding out 10 hits and used a 4-run second inning to take control of the game early. DC scored in the top of the first on an Allison Stinson RBI double before Hastings responded with 2 runs in the home half of the inning. The Jackets erupted for 4 runs to regain the lead when Anna Emswiler doubled in Ali Mowen before groundouts by Kaylee Heath and Ciara Blankenship. Stinson struck for her second RBI hit to cap off the inning with the second of her three hits in the game. Later in the fifth, Emma Linn singled home a pair of runs to support Madelyn Hoppers 5 innings of 3-run ball in the circle. Emma Rodgers locked down the save with two scoreless innings of relief.

Game 2 - Mount Marty 5, Defiance 2 (Sunday)
Mount Marty pitcher Jacey Hayen held DC to just 4 hits and allowed 2 unearned runs on her way to a complete game victory. She outdueled Taighen Zipfel for DC who also turned in a complete game while holding Mount Marty to five hits and five runs. A 3-run first frame by Mount Marty proved to be all the offense they required on just two hits due to a hit batter, two walks and a wild pitch aided by an RBI double for the third run of the frame. Both Defiance runs came home during the second inning on knocks by Emma Linn and Kaylee Heath.

Game 3 - Defiance 10, Kent State Tuscarawas 1 (5 innings, Monday)
Emma Rodgers starred for DC in a dominant victory over Kent State Tuscarawas to start Monday's action. Rodgers earned her first victory of the season in the circle holding the Golden Eagles to just 3 hits and 1 unearned run. On the offensive side, Rodgers slugged a 2-run triple that capped off a 5-run first for DC before she took a turn on the rubber in the bottom of the inning. Kylee Waldron drove in 3 runs in the win, including 2 RBIs in the first inning, while Catherine Trebley collected 2 RBIs with a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the first and a double during DC's 5-run fourth inning.

Game 4 - Clarke 5, Defiance 3 (Monday)
Defiance closed their second day of action with another close loss to the Clarke Pride. Devyn Hamilton pitched for the Jackets and had a strong outing, holding the Pride to just 3 hits and 3 runs through 4.2 innings of work. Madison Guggenbiller's solo home run during the third inning stood as the game's lone run until the Pride struck for 3 runs during the fifth. Taighen Zipfel entered in relief for Defiance and worked the Jackets out of the fifth while keeping the score 3-1. A 2-run double by Clarke in the sixth extended their lead to 5-1. DC clawed back during their final at-bat in the seventh, scoring twice with two outs and had the tying run on base before the Pride escaped with the 2-run win.

Game 5 - Defiance 8, Bloomfield 4 (Tuesday)
The Yellow Jackets offense had another strong start to their third day of play at the Space Coast Games by jumping out to a 7-1 lead through 2 innings. Starting with a triple by Avery Roever in the first, Catering Trebley provided RBIs in the first and second frames. Madison Guggenbiller closed the 5-run second with a 2-run double before Allison Stinson added another RBI double in the fifth. Devyn Hamilton locked down her first winning decision with 5 stellar innings, working around 6 hits and 2 walks for just an unearned run allowed.

Game 6 - Avila 10, Defiance 2 (6 innings, Tuesday)
After a 2-0 first inning, Avila plated 10 unanswered runs to run rule the Yellow Jackets in 6 innings. Avila spread 15 hits throughout the lineup and also swiped 7 bases during an offensive showcase. Madelyn Hopper and Kylee Waldron split time in the circle for DC

UP NEXT
DC has an off day on Wednesday and returns to action on Thursday against Nelson and Trinity Christian.

-JACKETS-