DC Beats Anderson in Extras

ANDERSON, IND.  --  The Defiance College baseball team gave up the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth, but came back two innings later with a pair of runs to come away with a 5-3 victory in 11 innings to begin a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference three-game series against Anderson (Ind.) University in Anderson, Ind.

Defiance (18-20, 11-14 HCAC) got the offense going in the top of the third inning with two runs thanks to a two-RBI single by freshman Michael Gilliland (Napoleon) with runners on second and third base.  Anderson 14-21, 11-12 HCAC) cut the Yellow Jacket lead in half in the fourth on a bunt play making the score 2-1.

The Ravens tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a run, but Defiance regained the lead in the eighth with a run of its own on a single by senior Gary Levengood (Beverly Hills, Fla./Lecanto) that also included an errant throw that allowed fellow senior Ryan Kohlhofer (Walbridge/Lake) to score.  

The lead remained a run for DC heading into the bottom of the ninth, but a leadoff single by Anderson followed by a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch, put the Ravens in excellent position to tie the game.  During the ensuing at-bat following the wild pitch, Anderson got a single to plate the game-tying run evening the game at 3-3 and sent the game into extra innings.

After a scoreless 10th inning, the Jackets began the top of the 11th with a double by sophomore Dom Gentile (Defiance).  Gentile then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and came home on a single by junior Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek).  Later in the inning, DC plated another run on a bunt by Gilliland to give the Jackets a two-run lead, 5-3.

Anderson led off the bottom of the inning with a hit by pitch, but would then record back-to-back outs.  After a wild pitch, the Ravens would get consecutive walks to load the bases.  Before any runs could cross home plate, Defiance got Anderson to hit into the game-ending out preserving the 5-3 victory.

Defiance ended the game with eight hits and had two multi-hit efforts in Kohlhofer and Gentile.  Kohlhofer had two hits in three at-bats and also scored a pair of runs.  Gentile went two-of-five and also scored a run.  Four other Yellow Jackets recorded base hits in the win, including Gilliland who finished one-of-three with a game-high three RBI.

At pitcher, junior Dave Blanch (Alliston, Ont./Banting Memorial) started the game and pitched eight and two-thirds innings giving up three runs on nine hits and had four strikeouts.  He ended up with a no decision as sophomore Jacob Green (Defiance) pitched the final two-innings-and-a-third without allowing a run and just one hit and struck out four batters to record the win.  He is now 1-4 overall for the season.

Defiance will conclude the 2016 season tomorrow (Friday, May 6) with a doubleheader against Anderson.  The first game is scheduled to begin at noon in Anderson, Ind.