April 15

Faling's Walk-Off Helps DC Complete Sweep
Defiance vs. Manchester Game one / Game two

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance swept Manchester College in its HCAC doubleheader on Tuesday, April 15, winning the opener, 3-1, and using a Mallory Faling walk-off homerun to take the second game, 3-2. DC improves to 4-2 in the HCAC this season with the two victories.

The Jackets jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the opening game of the doubleheader as Faling drove in Laurel Palk with a single to right center. Manchester scored a run in the top of the third to tie the game, but DC would tack on two more runs in the home half of the inning to put the game away.

Justine Johnston (8-5) earned the win for Defiance, giving up one run and scattering six hits in seven innings of work. The junior had five strikeouts in the game, reaching the 300 career strikeout milestone during the game. Faling led the Jackets with two hits and two RBI, while Palk and Amanda Auzins each had one hit and scored one run for DC.
Faling finished the day with 3 hits, 1 HR, and 3 RBI.
The Spartans grabbed an early lead in the nightcap, scoring a pair of unearned runs in the first to hold a 2-0 advantage. It took DC six innings to erase the deficit, scoring a run in the third before tying the game with a run in the sixth. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Auzins lifted the ball to the gap in right center to score Aarika Davis and knot the game at 2-2. An inning later Faling ended the game with a two-out shot over the leftfield fence to help Defiance complete the sweep.

Kelly Schnipke (4-3) continued her stellar play on the mound, surrendering two unearned runs on five hits and striking out a career-high six batters to win her second straight game. Davis led the Jackets with three hits in the game, while Auzins and Kayla Crager each added two hits for DC.

Defiance (13-12) will return to action on Thursday, April 17, when it travels to Anderson University for a HCAC doubleheader. The opening game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.