DC's Comeback Bid Against Saint John's Falls Short

FT. MYERS, FLA.  --  The Defiance College baseball team's comeback against Saint John's (Minn.) University fell short in non-conference nine-inning game in Ft. Myers, Fla.

The Yellow Jackets scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 6-6, but a run by the Johnnies in both the seventh and eighth innings would be the difference maker to hold off DC, 8-6.

Saint John's (8-5) scored its first runs in the bottom of the third inning with three scores to grab the lead.  The Johnnies then added two more runs in the fourth and then another run in the sixth to lead 6-0.

Defiance (2-5) swung momentum in its favor in the top of the seventh by plating six runs that included a two-RBI double by sophomore Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park), to even the game at 6-6.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Saint John's led off the inning with a double and later scored on a RBI-single to regain the lead, 7-6, and then added an insurance run in the eighth to increase the margin to 8-6.

The Yellow Jackets had runners in scoring position in both the top of the eighth and ninth innings, but could not get any runs across homeplate as the Johnnies held on for the two-run victory.

Defiance had 11 hits offensively and had two players finish with multiple hits led by senior Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) who finished three-of-five with a run scored and a RBI.  Fellow senior Quinten Harrington (Sandusky/Perkins) went two-of-four and also scored a run.  Six other players each recorded a base hit in the game.  Konwinski ended the game one-of-four to go along with his two RBI.

Junior Cody Nelson (Clayton, Mich./Hudson) started the game and pitched three innings allowing five runs on six hits and had one strikeout.  Sophomore Paris Creek (Bryan) came on to pitch three innings of relief and gave up just a run on two hits and also had one strikeout.  Sophomore Tyler Davie (Cincinnati/Anderson) replaced Creek to pitch an inning giving up one one on two hits with a strikeout.  He was also credited with the loss.  Freshman Kody King (Cecil/Fairview) finished the game and allowed two runs on four hits and tallied a strikeout.

Defiance will wrap-up its "southern swing" tomorrow (Friday, Mar. 10) with a non-conference twinbill against Alvernia (Pa.) University.  The first game is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.