Baseball Ends Hanover Series With Split

HANOVER, IND.  --  The Defiance College baseball team split a doubleheader against Hanover (Ind.) College in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference series opener in Hanover, Ind.  The Yellow Jackets defeated the Panthers in the first game, 4-3, but lost game two, 6-4.

In game one, Defiance (4-10, 1-2 HCAC) scored the game's first runs with a pair of scores in the top of the third inning on a defensive error and a single by sophomore Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park).  

The Yellow Jackets then added two more runs in the fifth on a RBI-single by sophomore Michael Gilliland (Napoleon) that was set up by a lead-off double by senior Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) and a bases loaded walk later in the inning to make the score 4-0.  Hanover (11-5, 2-2 HCAC) answered the runs with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning and narrow the gap back to two runs, 4-2.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Hanover tacked on another run to make it a one-run ball game, 4-3, but that would be the final run scored by either team as Defiance went on to claim the 4-3 win.

The Jackets posted nine hits in game one with Konwinski, Gilliland and junior Glen Collier (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) all recording multi-hit games.  Konwinski finished with two hits in three attempts in addition to a run scored and a RBI.  Gilliland and Collier both went two-of-five at the plate with Gilliland adding a run scored and two RBI.

On the mound, senior Nick Peters (Macomb, Mich./Eisenhower) got the start and pitched 8.1 innings allowing three runs on eight hits and had two strikeouts.  He was also credited with the win and improves to 2-1 overall for the season.  Konwinski replaced Peters to finish the game, and got the save, allowing no hits or runs.

In the second game, Hanover quickly took control scoring five runs in the first two innings.  DC made a dent in the deficit with three runs in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Gilliland, a RBI-single by Konwinski and a bases loaded walk to make the score 5-3.

The Jackets crept closer with another run in the eighth on a RBI-double by sophomore Tyler Weaver (Defiance).  But the Panthers got the run back in the bottom of the inning to extend the margin back to two runs, 6-4.

In the DC's final at-bats, the Jackets would record back-to-back-back outs to end the game as Hanover hung on for the 6-4 victory.

Weaver led the Defiance hitters with a two-of-three effort to go along with two RBI.  Konwinski also tallied a pair of runs and finished two-of-four overall with a RBI.

Senior Dave Blanch (Alliston, Ont./Banting Memorial) pitched seven complete innings, but suffered the loss, after allowing five runs on nine hits and had five strikeouts.  Sophomore Paris Creek (Bryan) pitched the final inning in relief and gave up a run on three hits.

Defiance is scheduled to host Manchester (Ind.) University in a HCAC twinbill on Tuesday, Mar. 28 at Craig A. Rutter Field.  The first game is slated to begin at 1 p.m.