Baseball Loses Non-Conference Game Against Heidelberg

TIFFIN, OHIO  --  Sophomore Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park) recorded three hits in addition to scoring a run and RBI in a 15-7 loss against Heidelberg University in a non-conference game in Tiffin, Ohio.

Konwinski's three hits were part of a seven-hit effort by the Yellow Jackets.  Four other players each recorded a base hit in the game, including sophomore Tyler Weaver (Defiance) who went one-of-four and had two RBI.  Fellow sophomores Tanner Stippich (Lima/Allen East) and Michael Gilliland (Napoleon) also finished one-of-four with Stippich adding a RBI and Gilliland scoring both a run and RBI.  Senior Dave Blanch (Alliston, Ont./Banting Memorial) had a hit in three at-bats to go along with a run scored.

Defiance used several players on the mound with sophomore Paris Creek (Bryan) getting the start and lasting two innings allowing two runs on three hits and had two strikeouts.  Junior Cody Nelson (Clayton, Mich./Hudson) was handed the loss after giving up six runs on four hits.  He drops to 1-2 overall for the season.

Heidelberg (12-9) grabbed the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning.  Defiance (6-15) exploded for six runs in the second on a series of RBI-base hits which included a bases loaded single by Weaver that scored a pair of runs, en route to the Yellow Jackets leading 6-1.  The Student Princes got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning that sparked a streak of 14 unanswered runs.

Heidelberg regained the lead in the third by platting seven runs and then added another run in the fifth, two runs in the sixth and three more runs in the seventh to lead, 15-6.  

The final run of the game came in the top of the eighth inning on a bases loaded walk by DC sophomore Grant Vickery (Bellevue).  The run came with only one out on the board, but Heidelberg managed to get Defiance to record back-to-back outs following the run to end the scoring threat as the Student Princes went on to win by the final of 15-7.

Defiance is scheduled to travel to Franklin, Ind. to begin a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference series against Franklin (Ind.) College beginning on Friday, Apr. 7 with a single, nine-inning game.  The first pitch is slated for 4 p.m.