Defiance sweeps Edgewood in doubleheader

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets Baseball team picked up a pair of wins in a doubleheader sweep of Edgewood College with 4-3 and 9-6 victories.

Defiance needed an extra inning to defeat the Eagles in game one on Tuesday at Terry Park. With the score tied at three after seven innings, Nick Ewalt pitched DC out of a jam in the top of the eighth. Ewalt entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the inning and was able to induce a fly out, giving the Yellow Jackets a chance to walk off in the bottom of the inning.

The Yellow Jackets took full advantage of the opportunity and Chris Donese led of with a single to start the run. Donese then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Darin Waterman, giving the Yellow Jackets a runner in scoring position.

Pat Masopust came up with the clutch at bat, providing a single up the middle to score Donese from second and give the Yellow Jackets a 4-3 win.

Masopust and Donese each had two hits in the game, along with Gary Levengood.

Ewalt picked up the win after recording the final out in the top of the eighth. Aaron Grasing pitched the first five innings, allowing three runs, two earned.

Aaron Paprocki, Matt Goodpaster, and Chris Douglas also pitched for DC in the game, keeping Edgewood scoreless in 2.2 innings of work.

In game two, the offense exploded for both teams as they combined to plate 15 runs. However, Defiance entered the seventh inning with just a 4-3 lead.

In the top of the seventh, the Yellow Jackets plated five runs on four hits, a pair of walks and a hit by pitch. The inning was highlighted by a Matt Staels two-RBI single.

The insurance runs proved valuable as Edgewood scored three runs early on in the bottom of the seventh. Matt Clark came into the game and picked up the save after forcing a pop out with two runners on for the final out of the game.

Joel Musser started the game and pitched the first three innings, allowing two runs. Nick Watkins entered the game and earned the win after pitching three innings, allowing just one run on three hits.

Four Yellow Jackets had multi-hit games for DC. Aaron Helland had a pair of hits and also had two stolen bases. Waterman has two hits in the game, including a triple. Masopust capped the day with four hits after collecting two more in game two. Brandon Riley also had two hits for the Purple and Gold.

Defiance will now take a day off before playing Otterbein in a single game on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.