Baseball Tops Siena Heights in Season Opener

ADRIAN, MICH. - The Defiance College baseball team topped Siena Heights 3-2 in its season opener on Wednesday afternoon at the SHU Baseball Diamond.

The Yellow Jackets (1-0 overall) recorded three runs on six hits with three RBI. Sophomore Jon Brown (Haskins/Otsego) claimed the opening day win pitching four complete innings, striking out two. 

Defiance plated the seasons first run in the top of the second as freshman Nate Kaffenbarger (DeGraff/Indian Lake) led off the inning with a single followed by a hit from sophomore Everett Kissel (Defiance/Tinora). Junior Tyler Weaver (Defiance) would load the bases drawing a walk on the next at-bat before sophomore Jude Neary (Toledo/Cardinal Stritch Catholic) plated the games first run. The scoring continued for the Yellow Jackets as sophomore Ben Bucklew (Archbold) hit a sacrfice fly to center field that scored Kissel, 2-0. 

Defiance would plate its final run of the contest in the top of the third inning as Kissel tallied his first RBI of the year with a double that scored senior Glen Collier (Zionsville), 3-0.

Siena Heights responded in the bottom half of the fourth inning as a fielders choice to second scored the Saints first run before junior Paris Creek (Bryan) was able to retire the side. 

However, the Saints continued to hang around as they threaten again in the bottom of the ninth inning following a single that placed a runner in scoring position. The next at-bat would deem clutch for Siena Heights as a single off of pitcher junior Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich.) cut the deficit to 3-2. With runners in scoring position, Konwinski remained poised as he was able to capture the last out and claim the save as well as the Defiance victory. 

Kaffenbarger and Kissel led the offense for DC with a team-best two hits a piece.

The Yellow Jackets return to action Monday, March 5 as they take on Hiram at 9:00 a.m. to open its annual spring break trip in Ft. Myers, Fla.