Baseball Splits Doubleheader to End Series Against Transylvania

LEXINGTON, KY.  --  The Defiance College baseball team split its final two games of a three-game series against Transylvania (Ky.) University in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.  The Yellow Jackets dropped the first game, 5-4, but came back to win game two, 19-17, in 10 innings.

In game one, Transylvania (9-11, 5-3 HCAC) jumped out early with two runs in the bottom of the first inning and then added two more runs in the third thanks to a two-run homerun to lead 4-0.  The Pioneers kept the scoring going with a run in the bottom of the fifth to increase the margin to 5-0.

Defiance (10-9, 3-4 HCAC) looked to rally and got a run in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by freshman Michael Gilliland (Napoleon) that was set up by a double by junior Quinten Harrington (Sandusky/Perkins) earlier in the inning.  Trailing by four runs going into the ninth, the Yellow Jackets plated their first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Dom Gentile (Defiance) making the score 5-2.  The DC offense wasn't done as a ground out by senior Gary Levengood (Beverly Hills, Fla./Lecanto) plated another run and then a Harrington RBI-single later in the inning put DC closer, 5-4.

But the rally fell short as Transylvania got the game-ending out before any more runs could score allowing the Pioneers to hang on for the 5-4 final.

Defiance tallied 14 hits in the game led by senior Ryan Kohlhofer (Walbridge/Lake) who went four-of-five with a run scored.  Harrington, Gilliland, senior Ben Weber (Troy/Lehman Catholic) and freshman Tanner Stippich (Lima/Allen East) all had two hits to round out the multi-hitters. Harrington and Weber both finished two-of-five with Harrington also adding a run scored and RBI.  Gilliand recorded two hits in three at-bats and had a RBI, while Stippich finished two-of-four at the plate.

On the mound, junior Nick Peters (Macomb, Mich./Eisenhower) pitched a complete game, but would suffer the loss and is now 0-3 overall for the season.  In eight innings, he allowed five runs on nine hits and had three strikeouts.

In the final game of the series, Defiance posted 19 runs and 23 hits and came away with a two-run victory, 19-17, despite committing nine errors defensively.  The Pioneers took control early with a run in the bottom of the first and added four runs in the second to lead, 5-0.  The Jacket offense then began to find some rhythm with a four-run third inning that included a two-RBI single by Gilliand and a RBI-triple by Harrington earlier in the frame to cut the deficit to a run, 5-4.

DC took the lead in the fourth thanks to two runs that came on base hits by Gentile and Levengood making the score 6-5.  But this time, the Pioneers looked to rally and regained the lead with six runs in the bottom of the fourth to move back ahead, 11-6.  

The Transylvania lead didn't last long as the Jackets took command with a seven-run fifth inning that was highlighted by a two-RBI double by Gentile and a series of RBI-base hits by Harrington, Weber and freshman Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park) to go along with a sacrifice fly by Stippich.  DC then went on to pad its lead with three more runs in the seventh on a single by Gilliland and a triple by junior Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) that plated two runs to make the score 16-11.

The Pioneers wouldn't go away quietly, however, and tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with five runs and then took the lead with a run in the eighth making the score 17-16.  In the top of the ninth, Defiance got the game-tying run on a wild pitch and the two teams would head to extras for the second time in the series.  In Defiance's next at-bats, the Jackets tallied two runs on a two-run homerun by Konwinski for a 19-17 lead.

In the bottom of the 10th, Transylvania got two early outs that were separated by a walk and later had bases loaded following a another walk and a hit batter.  DC then got Transylvania to hit into the game-ending groundout before any runs could score, giving the Jackets the 19-17 victory.

Konwinski led the DC hitters going five-of-six with four runs scored and three RBI.  Gilliland was second with four hits in six at-bats in addition to three runs scored and three RBI.  Harrington and Gentile both recorded three hits with Harrington finishing three-of-seven with four runs scored and two RBI and Gentile finishing three-of-six overall with two runs scored and three RBI.  Both Levengood and Weber went two-of-six with Levengood adding two RBI and Weber driving in a run.  In addition, Reed also had a pair of hits and finished two-of-five with two runs scored and two RBI.

Five players saw action on the mound for DC in the game with junior Nick Watkins (Lima/Central Catholic) getting the nod and pitched three-and-a-third innings allowing 10 runs, two earned on nine hits and had two strikeouts.  Watkins would end up with a no decision.  Senior Chris Douglas (Wixom, Mich./Walled Lake Western) ended up as the pitcher of record and picked up the win after pitching the final inning of relief allowing now runs or hits and had one strikeout.

Defiance will travel to North Manchester, Ind. on Tuesday, Apr. 5 for a second HCAC single game against Manchester (Ind.) University.  The game is scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.