DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Hanover softball team earned a split on Saturday afternoon as part of their Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener hosted by Defiance. The Yellow Jackets claimed game one 1-0 before the Panthers rallied to take the night cap 8-7.
 
GAME ONE
Senior Lily Beurman (Evansville, Ind.) got the call pitching a complete game while striking out a contest-best 11 batters.
 
Both teams struggled to find an offense early as the Panthers threaten the first run in the top of the third inning. Hanover got runners to scoring position but fell unsuccessful as Defiance was able to retire the side.
 
Defiance's lone run came in the sixth inning as a single up the middle plated what would become the game winning run, 1-0.
 
GAME TWO
Hanover dominated the night cap scoring early and often. The Panthers found two runs in the top of the first inning as senior Brittney Ralston (Lexington, Ind.) singled to the right side scoring sophomore Katherine Dickinson (Francisco, Ind.) and sophomore Kensie Bradley (Greenfield, Ind.), 2-0.
 
The excitement continued for the Blue and Red as they added an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning. Dickinson provided the clutch hit as she singled up the middle scoring sophomore Kendra Hutchison (Lafayette, Ind.).
 
Defiance got one run back in the bottom half of the inning, but the Panthers responded. Bradley plated the first two runs of the inning before Hutchison delivered a homerun in the top of the sixth inning that propelled HC in front 8-4.
 
The Yellow Jackets looked to get something going late but fell unsuccessful as Hanover was able to shut it down and claim the 8-7 victory.
 
Sophomore Courtney Chookie (Warsaw, Ind.)  got the win pitching six complete innings with two strikeouts, while Beurman charted her first save.