Baseball Steals Doubleheader from Albion

DEFIANCE, OHIO – Defiance completed the sweep of Albion on a breezy Sunday afternoon at Booster Field on the campus of Defiance High School. The Purple and Gold (6-6 overall) claimed game one 6-3 and won game two by a score of 11-7.

In game one, Defiance got on the board first in the bottom half of the fourth inning as junior Tyler Weaver (Defiance) delivered a clutch two out double to left center that plated freshman Nate Kaffenbarger (DeGraff/Indian Lake) who reached on a hit by pitch, 1-0.

Albion threatened in the top half of the fifth inning before the Yellow Jackets completed the double play stranding the Britons base runner.

The Purple and Gold picked up where it left off in the bottom half of the fifth inning as junior Michael Gilliland (Napoleon) singled to center field setting the stage for senior Glen Collier (Zionsville, Ind.). Collier delivered connecting for his second home run of the season picking up two RBI on the play, 3-0.

The Britons plated its first run of the contest in the top of the sixth inning as a series of DC miscues prolonged the inning for junior pitcher Paris Creek (Bryan), 3-1.  

Defiance tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning as Weaver led a two out rally with a single up the middle. Junior Garrett Sierra (Defiance) then drew a walk before Gilliland delivered the RBI single to shallow center field, scoring Weaver and advancing Sierra to third. Sierra scored on the next pitch as a wild ball extended the DC lead, 5-1.

Albion responded with a two out rally of its own in the top of the seventh inning as a double to left center off relief pitcher junior Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich.) cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Yellow Jacket offense delivered again in the bottom of the eighth inning as Collier deemed clutch with a RBI double down the left field line scoring Gilliland, 6-2.

The Britons plated the game's final run in the top of the ninth before Konwinski retired the side and secured the 6-3 win.

Creek got the win for the Purple and Gold pitching six and a third innings surrendering two runs on five hits.

As a team, DC tallied six runs on 12 hits with Weaver leading the way recording two hits and two RBI.

Defiance jumped ahead early in game two as Gilliland smashed an RBI single through the middle infield that scored Sierra in the bottom of the first inning. The Purple and Gold loaded the bases later in the inning before junior Tanner Stippich (Lima/Allen East) hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Gilliland. Weaver cleared the bases on the next at bat with a two RBI double to center pushing the DC advantage, 4-0.

The Purple and Gold tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the second inning as Konwinski doubles to left field scoring Sierra and advanced Collier to third before retiring the side, 5-0.

Albion responded in the top of the third inning as the Britons homered to left center. The offense explosion continued for Albion as they added another run late in the inning to pull within 5-2.

However, the Yellow Jackets would get both runs back in the bottom half of the inning as Kaffenbarger doubled to left center scoring Weaver. Sierra plated the final run of the inning using a sacrifice fly to center, 7-2.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Collier went yard for his third homer of the season extending the DC lead, 8-2.

Albion matched him in the top of the fifth inning and again in the sixth inning with its own home runs to cut the deficit to 8-5.

The Purple and Gold capitalized again in the bottom of the sixth inning following a Briton miscue and tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning following a Konwinski homer. 

The Yellow Jackets would go on to win the game 11-7 as sophomore Jon Brown (Haskins/Ostego) improved to 3-1 overall on the year throwing six complete innings. Freshman Cohen Nies (Logansport, Ind./Lewis-Cass) claimed the save. 

In the contest, DC scored 11 runs on 16 hits led by Sierra with three hits and an RBI.

Defiance returns to action Tuesday, March 20 as they play host to Wright State Lake. First pitched is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.