Jackets Split Doubleheader at Rose-Hulman

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Defiance split its doubleheader with Rose-Hulman on Sunday, April 6, coming back to win the opener, 8-6, before falling in the night cap, 4-0.

Trailing 6-0 after the first inning of the opening game, the Jackets made an amazing comeback against the top team in the HCAC. Justine Johnston held Rose-Hulman scoreless over the last six innings, while the DC offense was able to score in five of its last six innings to complete the come-from-behind victory.

Kayla Crager got Defiance onto the scoreboard in the second inning, hitting a leadoff homerun to cut the Engineers lead to five, 6-1. The Jackets scored two more in the third as Amanda Auzins scored on a sacrifice fly by Stephanie Lieto, while Marah Robinson plated Laurel Palk with a single down the right field line.

Lieto added another run in the fifth with a homer to pull DC within two runs, 6-4. Auzins cut the lead to one run an inning later, driving in Tasha Stucke with a two-out double down the left field line. Lieto jumpstarted a three-run seventh for Defiance, homering for her second time of the game to tie the contest at six apiece. Aarika Davis gave the Jackets their first lead of the game with a sac fly that scored Robinson, before Johnston added an insurance run with a single up the middle that scored Allison Ramsay.

Johnston, who improved to 6-4 with the win, is now 4-1 with a 2.12 ERA in her last five starts. The junior pitched another complete game, giving up six unearned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Lieto finished the game 2-for-3, scoring three times as well as driving in three runs. Robinson continued her hot hitting, going 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI in the game.

Rose-Hulman pitcher Jordan Goslee was the story of the second game, limiting DC to three hits and striking out 15 batters on her way to a complete-game shutout. Robinson, Johnston and Auzins each recorded a hit in the game for Defiance.

Defiance (9-10) will return to action on Tuesday, April 8, when it travels to Tiffin University for a doubleheader. The opening game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.