Johnston tosses no-hitter for DC’s first HCAC win
Nick Williams, Assistant SID

DEFIANCE, Ohio -- Justine Johnston hurled her first collegiate no-hitter against conference rival Hanover College as the Defiance College Softball team picked up its first HCAC win of 2006 with a 9-0 victory Saturday afternoon.

Johnston pitched five innings en route to the win. She retired the first five batters in a row before surrendering her first walk of the game to Halie Norton. Over the course of the game, Johnston gave up only three walks while striking out five batters. Her record now improves to 8-4 on the year and her ERA now drops to 2.12.

Holding a 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the fourth, the Yellow Jackets put up an eight-spot in the inning, highlighted by a three-run double by Monica Sigurdson. The Jackets batted around in the inning, bringing 14 batters to the plate. The first eight batters of the inning all came around to score. The eight runs are the most runs that DC has put up in an inning all season.

Sigurdson went 2-for-3 in the game with three RBIs and a run scored. Amanda Auzins went 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.

The second game of the doubleheader was forfeited by Hanover, giving DC a default 7-0 win and their second conference win of the season.

DC hosts Manchester College Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.