Yellow Jacket Softball sweeps doubleheader against Manchester
Nick Williams, Assistant SID

N. MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Defiance College Softball team earned two wins against HCAC rival Manchester College Wednesday afternoon by the scores 2-1 and 2-0.

In the first game, Defiance got on the board first, as Sara Wlasiuk singled in Renee Steffen in the top of the second. The Jackets would add another run in the top of the sixth when Allison Ramsay scored with two outs on an error by the Spartan catcher. Manchester would answer back in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own when Melissa Bower knocked in Tish Bitner who reached on a leadoff triple. DC would not give up another run after that en route to the win.

Alicia Allen continued her hot hitting, going 2-for-4 in the game. Justine Johnston earned her fifth win of the season, allowing only three hits in seven innings while striking out six.

In the nightcap, both teams were locked in a pitcher’s duel as neither Allen for DC nor Brittany Miller for Manchester gave up a single hit over the first three innings. Allen gave up the first hit of the game in the fourth but kept the runner stranded at first. DC’s first hit of the game came in the top of the fifth, when Melanie Bushman doubled to center. Ramsay, who pinch ran for Bushman, would eventually come around to score on an error by the centerfielder. In the seventh, Bushman would put up an insurance run for the Yellow Jackets, bringing Corrine D’Emilio around to score on an RBI single.

Allen picked up her second win of the year, hurling a complete game two-hitter. She struck out one batter while keeping the Spartans scoreless. Bushman went 2-for-3 in the game with an RBI and a run scored.

Defiance College (13-9, 2-0 HCAC) returns home to take on Hanover College Saturday at noon.