April 26

Jackets Clinch Spot in HCAC Doubleheader with Split
Defiance at MSJ: Game One / Game Two

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Defiance College softball earned the No. 3 seed in the HCAC Tournament after splitting its doubleheader with Mount St. Joseph on Saturday, April 26. The Lions took the opener 5-4, but DC was able punch its ticket to the HCAC tournament with a 3-1 victory in the nightcap. The Jackets move to 10-6 in the HCAC with the split.

Defiance’s comeback in the opener fell just short as it was unable to overcome a five-run deficit. Trailing 5-0 after five innings, the Jackets used a four-run sixth to pull within one run. Mallory Faling put DC on the board with a two-run homerun, before an Aarika Davis’ double scored Katie Bowman to cut the deficit to two runs, 5-3. Davis would score one batter later on an error to help the Jackets draw within one, 5-4.

Tasha Stucke drew a one-out walk in the seventh to put the tying runner on base, but Defiance was able to capitalize. Justine Johnston took the loss for the Jackets, giving up five runs over the course of the game.

Robinson's game-winning homer lifted DC past the Lions.
DC was able to score four runs, despite being held to just five hits as a team in the game. Faling’s homerun was her fourth of the season, while also driving in two of her team-leading 25 RBI. Davis and Stucke were the only other two Jackets to record hits in the game.

Laurel Palk set the table for Defiance in the nightcap, reaching on a single to start off the game. Faling drove in Palk with third RBI of the day to give the Jackets the early 1-0 advantage. The Lions tied the game in the bottom of the third, but Johnston would hold the MSJ offense scoreless over the remainder of the game.

Palk once again set the table in the top of the sixth with a lead-off walk, setting up Marah Robinson’s game-winning, two-run homer to help DC clinch the No. 3 seed. Johnston earned her 13th win of the season, holding the Lions to one run in her seven innings of work. Robinson leads the team with five homeruns this season, while also having drove in 24 runs on the year. Davis recorded two hits in the game, while Kayla Crager’s lone hit came on a single in the sixth.

Defiance (19-16) will face No. 2 seed Bluffton University in the opening round of the HCAC Tournament on Friday, May 2 on the campus of Rose-Hulman.