DEFIANCE, Ohio-- The Rose-Hulman softball team traveled to face Defiance College to open HCAC play on Sunday. The team split against the Yellow Jackets winning game one 9-0, and falling in game two 2-1. This advances the team to 12-8 overall and 1-1 in the HCAC. 

Rose-Hulman's win in game one of the doubleheader was the team's first win against the Yellow Jackets since 2017. This snaps Defiance's 12-game winning streak against the Fightin' Engineers. 

The Fightin' Engineers were led by a strong performance from Aubrey Smith in the circle in game one. Smith earned the shutout win pitching all 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts. 

Rose-Hulman got on the board in the third inning after a single by Smith brought in a run by Caledonia Coleman. Jessica Newsom would also come in to score to make the lead 2-0 early in the game. 

After adding another run in the fourth, the Fightin' Engineers exploded offensively with six runs in the sixth to seal the win after six innings. 

Coleman was the standout at the plate going a perfect three for three with two runs scored and one RBI. 

In game two, Smith was able to put Rose-Hulman ahead after scoring on a wild pitch in the top of the first inning. Defiance answered with a run in the third inning to tie the game 1-1. 

Defiance earned the walk-off win after a single in the bottom of the seventh brought in the game winning run. 

Phoebe Worstell got the start in the circle going 2.1 innings with three strikeouts. Smith would suffer the loss pitching 4.0 innings with one strikeout.

The Fightin' Engineers will continue HCAC play traveling to face Earlham College on Tuesday, April 9 at 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM.