DC Sweeps Eastern Nazarene in Season Opener

FT. MYERS, FLA.  --  The Defiance College baseball team began the 2015 season with a pair of victories against Eastern Nazarene University, 11-4 and 14-8, on its first day of competition of the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Defiance (2-0) scored in every inning in game one, including scoring eight of its runs in the first three frames.  The Yellow Jackets took control early with three runs in the bottom of the first inning on a RBI-sacrifice fly by junior catcher Gary Levengood (Beverly Hills, Fla./Lecanto) and a defensive error that allowed two runs to cross home plate.  All three runs came with bases loaded.  DC added another run in the second on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 4-0.  ENU (1-3) cut the deficit in half with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning, but the Yellow Jackets answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning highlighted by a RBI-double by sophomore outfielder Quinten Harrington (Sandusky/Perkins) and two RBI-singles by senior first baseman Ian Burkhart (Fremont) and sophomore infielder/outfielder Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) that made the score 8-2.  DC went on to score runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings on a RBI-groundout by Harrington, a RBI-double by Reed and a RBI-single by Burkhart to round out the scoring for the Jackets.  The Lions scored runs in the fourth and sixth innings, but it would not be enough as DC cruised to the 11-4 final.

The DC bats accounted for 13 hits, led by the duo of Reed and Burkhart who both recorded three hits.  Reed finished a perfect three-of-three with a run scored and two RBI, while Burkhart went three-of-four with a run scored and a pair of RBI.  Harrington, senior infielder Chris Donese (Kettering/Fairmont) and junior Ben Weber (Troy/Lehman Catholic) all had two hits with Weber going two-of-three and scored two runs.  Harrington and Donese both finished two-of-four with Harrington crossing the plate one and driving in two runs, while Donese added two runs scored.  Senior outfielder/pitcher Matt Staels (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) also recorded a hit going one-of-three and scored a run.

On the mound, sophomore Dave Blanch (Alliston, Ont./Banting Memorial) got the start and pitched six innings allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and struck out five batters.  Sophomore Nick Watkins (Lima/Central Catholic) came on to pitch an inning in relief and gave up just a lone hit.

In game two of the twinbill, Defiance rallied from six runs down to score 12 unanswered runs and take a six-run victory.  DC grabbed the early lead with a run in the top of the first inning on a Levengood RBI-ground out.  But ENU moved ahead scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 3-1.  The Jackets got one of the runs back in the second thanks to a RBI-groundout by senior infielder Joel Musser (Center Line, Mich./Center Line).  The Lions answered the DC run with five runs in the bottom of the inning to take a sizeble 8-2 advantage.  The DC rally began in the third with four runs that included a RBI-double by Levengood and a RBI base hit by Burkhart to pull the Jackets to within two runs, 8-6.  Defiance then tied the game in the fourth with two runs that included a RBI-groundout by junior first baseman Royce Laurendeau (Clyde).  DC took the lead with a three-run fifth on a RBI-triple by Musser and base hits by junior infielder Ryan Kohlhofer (Walbridge/Lake) and Donese to make the score 11-8.  The Yellow Jackets scored their final three runs in the seventh that included a pair of RBI-bunt plays by Donese and Levengood as DC went on to win by the final of 14-8.

The DC offense remained hot at the plate with 14 hits in game two.  Donese led the team in the hit department with three knocks in addition to scoring two runs and driving in two more.  He finished a total of five-of-eight for the day with four runs scored and two RBI.  Three other Yellow Jacket players recorded multi-hit games in Kohlhofer, Levengood and Burkhart.  Kohlhofer and Levengood both finished two-of-four.  Kohlhofer scored three runs to go along with a RBI and Levengood tallied two runs scored and three RBI.  Burkhart ended the game two-of-five with a run scored and a RBI.  Laurendeau, Harrington, Staels, Musser and Reed also recorded base hits in the game.  Laurendeau added a pair of runs and a RBI, while Harrington scroed a run and a RBI.  Musser had a run scored and two RBI and Staels and Reed both scored a run.

At pitcher, sophomore Matt Clark (Sandusky/Perkins) started the game, but ended up with a no decision going one and two-thirds innings giving up eight runs on nine hits and struck out one batter.  Fellow sophomore Nick Peters (McComb/Eisenhower) came on to pitch four-and-a-third innings and was the pitcher of record to claim his first win of the season.  He didn't allow a run and gave up just three hits and a walk while striking out three batters.  Freshman Cody Nelson (Clayton, Mich./Hudson) finished the game and pitched a scoreless inning allowing one hit and had one strikeout.

Defiance will play another doubleheader tomorrow (Tuesday, Mar. 10) against Rivier (N.H.) University as part of the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla.  The first game is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.