DC Splits Doubleheader Against Transylvania to End Series

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  The Defiance College baseball team split its final two games of a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against Transylvania (Ky.) University at Craig A. Rutter Field.  The Yellow Jackets won the first game, 7-2, but fell, 5-3, in the nightcap in 12 innings.

In game one, Defiance (6-14, 3-5 HCAC) had 16 hits offensively and got a complete game effort on the mound from senior Nick Peters (Macomb, Mich./Eisenhower) to get the win.

The Yellow Jackets had five players record multi-hit games, including two players who ended the day with three hits.  Junior Glen Collier (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) and senior Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) both went three-of-five.  Collier added a run scored and Reed also scored a run.

Senior Quinten Harrington (Sandusky/Perkins) had two hits in five attempts and had a game-high three RBI.  The duo of sophomores Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park) and Michael Gilliland (Napoleon) rounded out the top hitting performances by both finishing two-of-four.  Konwinski also scored a pair of runs in addition to a RBI, while Gilliland scored a run.

Peters improved to 3-1 on the year after pitching all nine innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four batters.

The game was deadlocked in a pitcher's dual until the bottom of the fifth inning when DC platted a pair of runs that began with a lead-off double by Gilliland, who then came around to score on a base hit by senior Mac Edwards (Kingston, Ont./Jefferson CC).  The Jackets' other run came off the bat of Konwinski with runners at first and third base.

Transylvania (10-11, 5-3 HCAC) came back to tie the game with two runs of its own in the seventh on a two-run home run.  But Defiance regained the lead in the bottom of the frame with three scores on hits by junior Glen Collier (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville), Harrington and then a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to make the score 5-2.

Defiance then tacked on two more runs in the eighth thanks to a two-RBI double by Harrington to end the scoring and gave the Yellow Jackets a 7-2 win.

The second game remained scoreless until the third inning when the Pioneers got on the board first with a run in the top of the third inning.  But the lead didn't last long as DC answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning that came on a double by Reed and a single by Collier to make the score 2-1.

The advantage remained a run for the Jackets until the sixth when Transylvania got a run across home plate on a sacrifice fly to even the score at 2-2.

Both teams failed to score anymore runs the rest of the way to force the game into extras.  Transylvania finally broke the stalemate in the top of the 12th inning with three runs that began with a solo homer.  The Pioneers went on to add runs on a defensive error and a RBI-single.  In Defiance's half of the inning, the Jackets would get a run on a RBI-single by sophomore Grant Vickery (Bellevue) to narrow the gap to 5-3.  But the run came with two outs and Transylvania ended the possible rally with the game's final out on the ensuing at-bat following the DC run to claim the two-run victory. 

Defiance tallied 16 hits for the contest, led by Collier and Gilliland who both had four hits.  Both finished four-of-five overall with Collier scoring a RBI and Gilliland adding a run scored.  Reed went two-of-seven at the plate with a run scored and RBI.  Senior Dave Blanch (Alliston, Ont./Banting Memorial) rounded out the multi-hitters with a two-of-five performance.

The Yellow Jackets got another nine-inning effort on the mound in the nightcap.  This time by senior Nick Watkins (Lima/Central Catholic) who allowed two runs on seven hits and had four strikeouts, but would end up with a no decision.  Konwinski came on to pitch 2.1 innings in relief and would be the pitcher of record, giving him the loss after giving up a run on one hit.  Sophomore Paris Creek (Bryan) pitched the final two-thirds of an inning and allowed two unearned runs on two hits.

Next up on the Defiance schedule is a non-conference single game against Heidelberg University on Wednesday, Apr. 5 in Tiffin, Ohio.  The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.