Yellow Jackets Fall to No. 16 Spartans in Weekday Matchup

N. MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Defiance College baseball squad traveled to Manchester University to take on the No. 16 team in the nation in the Spartans. Manchester proved itself worthy of the ranking, as the Spartans dominated the game, winning by a final of 19-2.

Manchester jumped out to an early lead, as the Spartans scored two runs in the bottom of the first off a homerun to grab a 2-0 advantage.

After a scoreless second inning, the Yellow Jackets battled back in the top of the third and tied the game at two runs apiece. Patrick Masopust was responsible for both runs, as the designated hitter ripped a triple to left field, scoring Darin Waterman and Chris Donese. The three-base knock marks the first of Masopust's career.

After DC knotted the score up at 2-2, Manchester wasted little time in taking the lead back. The Spartans struck for three runs in the bottom of the third go up 5-2. Then in the fourth frame, the hosts blew the game wide-open with six runs to push their lead to nine at 11-2.

Both team's defenses and pitching staffs held the opponent bats at bay in the next three innings, as neither team scored heading into the final two frames. Manchester added eight runs in the bottom of the eighth to go on to win by a final of 19-2.

The loss drops the Purple and Gold's record to 12-9 on the season and 5-6 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Yellow Jackets return home for a three-game weekend series against Franklin College in a pivotal conference showdown. Game one is scheduled to be played on Friday, April 12 with the first pitch slated for 4:15 p.m.