DC completes Space Coast Spring Games on Saturday

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Defiance Yellow Jackets finished their 12-game spring break trip at the Space Coast Spring Games on Saturday, going 1-5 in the second half of the week to finish 4-8 in the event.

The Yellow Jackets (5-11) split their first four days of action, all of which featured two games each day, before being bested in their last four games of the trip. Over the last two days, Defiance was held to one run aside from an 8-5 loss to St. Francis after leading 5-1.

Among individual highlights, senior Ali Mowen reached 100 career hits with a 4-hit game in a win over Trinity Christian. In the circle, Taighen Zipfel posted a pair of complete games and carried a 1.65 ERA over her last 3 outings of the road trip.

Game 7 - Nelson 6, Defiance 0 (Thursday)
DC experienced its first shutout defeat of the season following the day off. While the Yellow Jackets scattered 5 hits, a trio of Nelson pitchers held the Jackets off the board. The Warriors struck for a pair of runs in the first and added a third in the second frame off Defiance starter Emma Rodgers. The Jackets threatened with runners on third in the second and fourth but were unable to score. 

Game 8 - Defiance 4, Trinity Christian 2 (Thursday)
Ali Mowen grooved four base hits and scored twice to propel the Purple and Gold to victory over Trinity Christian in Thursday's second contest. It was the senior's second career 4-hit game to help her reach her career milestone. Kaylee Heath also enjoyed a 2-hit game while Avery Roever, Allison Stinson, Heath and Madelyn Hopper drove in single runs. Taighen Zipfel went the distance in the circle with a dominant performance, holding the Trolls to just 2 hits over 7 innings in her first winning decision of the season.

Game 9 - Florida National 6, Defiance 0 (Friday)
Florida National used a 3-run first and sixth innings offensively while starting pitcher Brunella Beteta tossed a 4-hit shutout for the Conquistadors. Kaylee Heath collected a pair of his for Defiance in the loss. Morgan Scott started the game with a double before DC's next 10 hitters went down in order before the first of Heath's base hits in the fourth.

Game 10 - Olivet Nazarene 14, Defiance 1 (Friday)
Game information not available.

Game 11 - St. Francis (IL) 8, Defiance 5 (Saturday)
DC's skid reached three in a row with a competitive game against the St. Francis Fighting Saints. The Jackets struck with 2 runs in the first and built a 3-0 lead through the first inning and a half. After St. Francis got a run back in the second, Defiance posted 2 more runs in the fourth to lead 5-1. The Saints responded with a 6-run explosion in the bottom of the fourth, starting with a 2-run double before taking the lead with a bases-loaded hit batter, walk and wild pitch.

Game 12 - Indiana South Bend 2, Defiance 0 (Saturday)
Indiana South Bend captured all the offense they needed in the first inning of what turned out to be a pitcher's duel. Grabbing their first run on a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly pushed the Titans ahead 2-0. IU South Bend's Savannah Hamilton blanked the Jackets on 3 hits during a complete-game shutout. Taighen Zipfel tossed her third complete game of the spring break trip despite a losing decision, holding the Titans to just 2 hits over the final 5 innings of the contest.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets return north and will host their home and WHAC opener against the Cleary Cougars. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

-JACKETS-