Defiance Wins Marathon 13-Inning Thriller to Advance to NCAA Division III Tournament
May 3, 2008
TERRE HAUTE, IN -- Defiance College captured the 2008 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament with an 11-5 victory in 13 innings over the College of Mount St. Joseph at Rose-Hulman on Saturday.
The Yellow Jackets completed the tournament with a 3-0 record behind three complete game victories from pitcher Justine Johnston. In the final contest, Johnston tossed all 13 innings and scattered 12 hits with six walks and six strikeouts to move to 16-6 on the season.
Defiance forced extra innings by rallying from a 3-2 deficit with a Marah Robinson solo home run to lead off the seventh frame. In extra innings, both teams scored one run in the 10th and one in the 12th, before the Yellow Jackets exploded for six runs in the 13th to secure the win.
Mallory Faling blasted a three-run home run in the 13th inning to help secure the Defiance win. Robinson and Aarika Davis each slapped four hits to lead the offense, while Robinson, Faling and Stephanie Lieto scored a pair of runs each.
For Mount St. Joseph, Ashleigh Stallkamp blasted a two-run home run in the sixth inning to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead. Kristina Dennett paced the Lions wtih three hits and two runs scored.
Other key contributors for Mount St. Joseph included Stallkamp with two hits and two runs scored; Katie Cammerer with two hits and one RBI; and Casey Brookbank with two hits. Katie Cohill pitched nine innings in relief and allowed only one earned run until the final inning to keep the Lions within striking distance.
Defiance improved to 22-16 on the season and advances to the NCAA Division III Tournament with the victory. Mount St. Joseph completed the season with a mark of 17-23.