Jackets Win Season Finale on Sawmiller Walk-Off
DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College softball program capped Senior Day with a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh of Sunday's second game against Rose-Hulman. DC sealed the comeback with a two-run double by Jordan Sawmiller for the 4-3 win, after falling by a 1-0 margin in the opener.
The Yellow Jackets saw their hopes of a spot in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament dashed with a 1-0 defeat in the opener, after stranding seven runners on base and leaving the potential tying run in scoring position in the seventh inning.
Senior Lisa Brophy (0-1) pitched well in the loss, allowing only two hits and one run to the Engineers, while striking out four in her first collegiate start. Lauren Dicke tossed a pair of scoreless frames to close the game for Defiance.
The Purple and Gold wasted no time getting on the board in the second contest, using a two-out rally to answer a Rose-Hulman run in the top half of the first inning. Katie Miller started the threat with a two-out single, before Sawmiller doubled to the center-field fence to tie the game at 1-1. Sawmiller then came home with the go-ahead run, after Kailea Holbrook dumped a single into left field for the 2-1 DC advantage.
A pair of runs in the fifth from Rose-Hulman put the Jackets in a 3-2 deficit and it stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh.
Ashley Switzer was the first to reach after lining a single to left field with one out in the inning. After the second out was recorded, Macy Ferrall drew a walk and Miller singled through the left side to load the bases for Sawmiller.
The sophomore out of Wapakoneta High delivered once again, tagging a double onto the warning track in the left-field corner to score a pair of runs and give Defiance the thrilling, 4-3, victory.
Sawmiller was the hitting star for DC, doubling twice among her three hits, driving in three runs and scoring another. Miller also bolstered the attack with a two-hit showing and one run.
Dicke (4-12) notched the win in relief, tossing the final 2.1 innings of the contest and retiring three Engineers on strikes.
Defiance closes the 2012 campaign with a 10-29 overall clip and a 7-9 mark in HCAC play. The game marks the end of the collegiate careers of DC's five seniors, Lisa Brophy, Izzy Huffman, Jessica Mandula, Aubrie Ridinger and Katelyn Samples.
