Softball splits a pair of one-run decisions with Hanover
Defiance, Ohio - The Defiance College softball team split a conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon against Hanover at Sal Hench Field. The Panthers took game one, 7-6, and the Yellow Jackets would rally in the seventh to earn a walk-off, 4-3 win in game two.
Hanover is now 15-19 overall and 7-5 in the HCAC and Defiance stands at 14-18 overall and 5-5 in the HCAC.
Game 1
Final: Hanover 7, Defiance 6
The Panthers used a two-out rally to take a 3-0 lead. Savannah McCoy walked Kendra Hutchison and three hits followed that allowed Hanover to take the lead.
That lead would hold until the fourth inning when the Yellow Jackets answered. The first hit of the game came from Brooke Silcox, a one-out triple. Ali Mowen grounded out to score Silcox and Josilyn Guzman homered to trim the deficit to one.
Hanover was once again able to put together a three-run inning, this time in the sixth to take a 6-2 lead. Destiny Coil came through with a clutch grand slam in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 6.
After Defiance seemed to have all of the momentum, Hanover rallied with two outs once again in the seventh to take the lead back. Dani Steward reached base to start the inning but she was immediately picked off by catcher Natalee Cooper. Riley Alcorn would then strike out the next batter. Following the strikeout, Hanover put together three straight hits with two outs to take the momentum back.
A one-out double from Marissa Roberts gave the Yellow Jackets life in the bottom of the inning but the rally was short-lived as Brooke Silcox lined into a double play to end the game, where Roberts was thrown out at second on the play.
Savannah McCoy pitched 5.0 innings, allowed five earned runs, and struck out seven. Riley Alcorn (L, 1-2) took the loss and pitched 2.0 innings, allowed two earned runs, and struck out two. Roberts had two hits in the game and Coil's only hit of the game was the grand slam.
Lauren Beaman (W, 7-9) went 7.0 innings for Hanover and allowed six earned runs while striking out five.
Game 2
Final: Defiance 4, Hanover 3
The Yellow Jackets bounced back and rallied for the walk-off win.
The Panthers would strike first again. They took advantage of errors by Brooke Silcox and Ali Mowen to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
The Yellow Jackets had runners on base in each of the first three innings but could not plate any runs.
Hanover used a two-out rally in the fourth to score one run. Defiance used a two-out rally of their own to score two in the inning. Amber Krause homered and Anika Craft scored on an RBI single from Marissa Roberts to cut the deficit to one.
The 3-2 score would hold going into the last at-bat for the Yellow Jackets. With dark skies and rain falling, Craft led off the inning with a single and Roberts followed with an RBI triple. Kelly Limbaugh came in as a pinch runner and on the first pitch she saw, Brooke Silcox singled to center field for the win.
Anika Craft (W, 8-7) pitched 7.0 innings, allowed two earned runs and struck out eight. Roberts, Silcox, and Krause each had two hits.
Courtney Chookie started for Hanover, went 5.1 innings, allowed one earned run and struck out four. Dani Steward (L, 1-1) took the loss in 0.2 innings of work.
The Yellow Jackets are back at Sal Hench Field Tuesday afternoon against Kalamazoo. Game one starts at 3 p.m.
