Jackets Shutout No. 13 Ramapo to Advance

ITHACA, N.Y. –Justine Johnston pitched her fifth shutout of the season, helping Defiance claim a 1-0 victory over No. 13 Ramapo on Saturday, May 10 to advance to the next round of the NCAA Regional Tournament. The Jackets avenged a loss to the Roadrunners earlier this season, while earning their school-record second victory of the NCAA Regional Tournament.

DC scored its only run of the game in the second inning, a run that turned out to be the game-winner. Cara Hughes hit a one-out single to left field to start things up for the Jackets, before being replaced by pinch runner Allison Ramsay. Ramsay didn’t have to stay on base long, scoring the very next play on Kayla Crager’s double to the gap in left center to put Defiance up, 1-0.

That was all the help Johnston would need, as the junior hurler escaped trouble time and time again to preserve the shutout. Johnston scattered six hits over

her seven innings of work, forcing the Roadrunners to strand 10 runners in the game. The Wauseon, Ohio native earned her career-high 18th victory of the season with win, while improving to 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA in the NCAA Regional Tournament.

DC had only four hits in the game with two of those coming in the second inning. Amanda Auzins and Tasha Stucke were the other two Jackets to record base hits in the game.

Defiance (24-17) will play again this afternoon Saturday, May 10, against Rochester at 4:00 p.m.