DC Softball misses out on sweep of Anderson
Nick Williams, Assistant SID

ANDERSON, Ind. – The Defiance College Softball team went 1-1 in an HCAC doubleheader against Anderson University, falling in the first game 6-5 and winning the second 6-2.

In the first game, DC struck first when Kelsey Sugg singled in Amanda Auzins in the opening inning, who got on with a one-out triple. DC would add two more in the top of the third on a two-run homer by Auzins. The Jackets looked as if they would cruise to victory as Justine Johnston was pitching a gem, allowing only one hit and two walks through five. Yet in the bottom of the six, the wheels came off. Julia Siefring homered to lead off the inning, while the next two batters reached base. After a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third, Johnston gave up three consecutive singles, bringing around four Raven runners and giving Anderson a 5-4 lead. Johnston surrended one more run on a sacrifice fly before getting out of the inning. In the top of the seventh, DC attempted to make a comeback, as Sara Wlasiuk reached on a pinch-hit single. Amanda Auzins would single in Jessica Smith (who pinch-ran for Wlasiuk) with two outs to bring the Jackets within one. However, the rally ended on the next at-bat with a force-out at second to end the game with the tying run stranded on base.

The second game began the same as the first, with DC jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Melanie Bushman. Anderson would tie the game in the bottom of the third on a homerun, again by Siefring. However, this game saw DC’s turn to put a lot of runs on the board. In the top of the sixth, the first four Jacket batters reached base, setting the stage for a big inning. After a force-out at home, Smith busted out a two-RBI double to give DC the lead. Alicia Allen would contribute with an RBI single of her own, and Amanda Auzins scored the fourth and final Jacket run of the inning on a fielding error by the first baseman. In the top of the seventh, DC would add another run on a sacrifice fly by Smith. The Ravens put a scare in the Jackets in the bottom half of the inning, as three of the first four batters reached base, giving them the bases loaded with one out. Allen, who went the distance on the mound, was able to escape the jam with the win, giving up only one run in the inning.

Auzins went 3-for-7 on the day with three RBIs and two runs scored. Smith went 2-for-3, also with three RBIs and two runs scored. Allen picked up the lone win of the day for the Jackets, giving up two runs in seven innings of work with four strikeouts.

Defiance College (17-11, 4-2 HCAC) hosts the University of St. Francis Monday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.