Late rally seals Sunday sweep for DC Softball

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College softball ran its winning streak up to 4 straight games and improved to 5-1 in conference play with wins of 16-2 and 7-6 over the Rochester Christian Warriors on Sunday at Sal Hench Field.

The Yellow Jackets (10-12, 5-1 WHAC) remain unbeaten in true home games with the team's third run-rule victory in Game 1 and the program's second walk-off victory this season. The Warriors (8-20, 0-10) slipped to their 11th straight loss after seeing their first conference win slip away.

Game 1 - Defiance 16, Rochester Christian 2 (5 innings)
The Yellow Jackets pounded out a season-high 19 hits and jumped ahead early with 14 runs in the first two frames. Defiance used a 6-run first frame and sent 11 hitters to the plate. After the first two hitters were hit by pitches, Catherine Trebley singled off the bag at second to bring in the first run of the game followed by a 2-run triple by Allison Stinson. Emma Linn and Morgan Scott went on to add RBI singles in the inning. The Jackets went on to add 8 more in the second frame, all with 2 outs. Starting with a 2-run single by Emma Linn, Trebley later delivered a 2-run double to the fence to highlight the inning.

Madelyn Hopper (Win, 4-2) was just as dominant in the circle as the offense was at the dish, holding the Wawrriors to just 2 hits and 2 runs while fanning 7 hitters, matching a season-high. The freshman hurler held RCU hitless her first trip through the order before a pair of 2-out RBI hits got the Warriors on the board. In the last of the fourth inning, DC got those 2 runs back when Devyn Hamilton delivered a pinch-hit, 2-run single.

Game 2 - Defiance 7, Rochester Christian 6 
In Game 2, Rochester Christian built a 6-0 lead before DC rallied back for a walk-off win. The Warriors' Amber Lamphier kick-started the scoring with a 2-run homer over the left field fence during a 3-run first frame and came back with a double in the second. Lamphier also held the Jackets at bay in the circle, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings before being knocked out of the ballgame when she was struck by a liner by a DC batter.

Defiance threatened throughout the game and left 9 on base through the first four innings until Emma Linn came through with a 2-run double in the fifth. Trailing 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh, the Jackets loaded the bases for Linn without using an out. Linn singled home one run, and Devyn Hamilton doubled home 2 more while representing the winning run. With runners on the corners, Paige Stewart hit a grounder to short and Kaylee Heath beat the throw home to tie the game. Rochester Christian intentionally walked Morgan Scott to set up a play at any base before Ali Mowen popped out. Trebley then turned on the first pitch she saw and laced a single to left to plate Hamilton for the walk-off win. Hamilton (Win, 3-4) picked up the winning decision in the circle, pitching 5 innings of relief, surrendering just one earned run (3 total).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Yellow Jackets swept their second straight doubleheader and the team's longest winning streak under Coach Osborne.
• With the two victories, Defiance reached 10 wins on the season and are one shy of matching last season's total.
• DC's 5-1 start in WHAC action is the program's best start to conference play since opening 5-1 in 2022.
• Defiance's 19 hits in Game 1 was one hit shy of matching the single-game program record, which was set in 1985.
• Ciara Blankenship and Catherine Trebley had perfect 3-for-3 showings in the first game, while Madelyn Hopper posted a 3-for-3 ledger in Game 2.
• Emma Linn led the team in hitting across the two games, going a combined 5-for-8 with a double and team-high 6 RBIs.
• Catherine Trebley also had a 5-hit afternoon, finishing 5-for-8 with a pair of doubles and 4 RBIs, including the game-winner in Game 2.
• Hopper posted a combined 4-for-6 showing and scored 3 times while twirling a 2-hitter in the first game. 
• Allison Stinson had a strong stat line, going 2-for-3 with 4 RBIs in the first game and walked twice during Game 2. 
• Devyn Hamilton was also a treat at the plate, posting 4 total RBIs, went 2-for-4 with a double, scored the winning run and Game 2 and earned the winning decision in the circle.
• Morgan Scott extended her hitting streak to 6 games with hits in each game and reached base 6 times across the two games, which led all Defiance hitters.

UP NEXT
Defiance hits the road for its next two conference battles, beginning Wednesday afternoon at Michigan-Dearborn. First pitch at The Hawk in Farmington Hills, Mich. is scheduled for 3 p.m.

-JACKETS-