Quick starts propel Yellow Jackets to 2-0 series victory over WVU Tech

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Defiance College earns its first series win of the season with back-to-back multiscore wins over the West Virginia Tech Golden Bears Saturday at Little Creek Park. 

After seven, DC took game one 6-3, and game two 12-2 as both games featured quick, hot starts. 

Batting to start game one of the double-header, the Yellow Jackets (2-4) filled the bases quickly with a walk from Ali Mowen and singles from Anika Craft and Morgan Scott. With no outs and bases loaded, Anna Emswiler's ground out to third base earned her an RBI as Mowen scored – Craft and Scott also advancing. Emma Linn lined out to center field, notching an RBI of her own with a run from Craft to take a 2-0 lead at the top of the first. 

Following a short stint on the mound Friday, Anika Craft returned for a full game on Saturday pitching all seven innings in game one. Craft faced five batters in the first, giving up one hit, and the Golden Bears (0-8) got on the board at the bottom of the inning by a steal at home. 

In the top of the second, Defiance was playing at its best. Kaylee Heath led the inning off with a triple deep into right field – notching the first three-base hit of the season. A strikeout by Madison Guggenbiller provided WVU Tech relief until a single by Avery Roever earned her an RBI as Heath ran home. A single by Mowen put her on base, accompanied by Craft who reached first on an error, giving Roever the opportunity to rack up Defiance's second of the inning. RBI's from Scott and Linn, her second in as many innings, gave the Jackets a 4-1 lead. 

The bottom of the second featured a score from the Golden Bears' Lillian Healton who stole third and reached home plate on an error by catcher Emswiler. 

In the final five innings, Defiance earned seven hits, but no runs, despite putting the ball into play. The scoring finished when a single from WVU Tech brought the runner on second in to score; the Golden Bears unable to outlast the Jackets. 

Craft reached a 71% strike percentage on the day allowing six hits, one walk and striking out eight batters, which earned her her first win of the season. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Defiance had its best offensive series with a combined 32 hits and 18 runs

• Morgan Scott batted 75% on the day with three scores

• Kayle Heath had a day at-bat with a triple in game one and three RBI's in game two

• Anika Craft and Ali Mowen each scored five runs in the series as leadoff and on-deck hitters, respectively

• Craft is credited with a team-high three stolen bases on the day

• Combined, Craft and Taighen Zipfel walked batters twice

• In the first two innings of both games combines, the Jackets outscored the Golden Bears 8-2

• In game one, Mowen, Scott and Madison Guggenbiller each earned double plays

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets head to Taylor for a meeting with the Trojans at Gudakunst Field in Upland, Ind. The double-header is set for 4 p.m.

-JACKETS-