Defiance Loses to Ohio Northern in Home Opener

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  The Defiance College baseball team suffered a 15-6 defeat at the hands of Ohio Northern University in a non-conference single nine-inning game at Craig A. Rutter Field in the home opener.

Ohio Northern (10-1) scored first with a run in the top of the first inning to grab the early lead.  The lead didn't last long as Defiance (5-3) countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame on a pair of RBI-singles by junior Ben Weber (Troy/Lehman Catholic) and senior Matt Staels (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) to make the score 2-1.  The Polar Bears continued the scoring in the second crossing the plate four times to move back ahead on the scoreboard, 5-2.

The lead remained three runs until the top of the fifth when ONU added two more runs to extend the margin to 7-2.  The Yellow Jackets got one of the runs back in their turn at the plate in the inning thanks to a RBI fielder's choice by junior Ryan Kohlhofer (Walbridge/Lake) with runners on first and third.  The Polar Bears then took control with three runs in the sixth on a three-run homerun to blow the game open, 10-3.  

The three runs by ONU in the sixth were part of an 8-0 scoring streak that led to a 15-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the ninth.  Defiance got three runs across in the ninth that included a RBI-single by sophomore Tre' DeVoe (Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park) and a RBI groundout by sophomore Dave Blanch (Alliston, Ont./Banting Memorial) in a pinch-hit situation with a runner at third.  The three runs by DC in the inning came a little too late, however, as ONU already had the game in hand and went on to win by the final of 15-6.

Defiance ended the game with seven hits and had one multi-hitter in senior Chris Donese (Kettering/Fairmont) who finished two-of-five overall.  Five other Yellow Jackets each recorded a base hit.  Weber posted a one-of-four effort to go along with a RBI, while Staels and senior Joel Musser (Center Line, Mich./Center Line) both finished one-of-three.  Staels also had a RBI and Musser scored a run.  DeVoe recorded a hit in his only at-bat in addition to scoring a run and RBI.

On the mound, five players saw action with freshman Cody Nelson (Clayton, Mich./Hudson) getting the start.  He pitched two innings and ended up with the loss, dropping him to 0-1 for the season.  He allowed five runs, four earned, on four hits and struck out two batters.

Defiance is scheduled to travel to Terre Haute, Ind. for a three-game series against Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener beginning Friday, Mar. 20.  The series begins with a single game on Friday which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.