Ohio Northern Knocks Off Yellow Jackets

ADA, OHIO -- The Defiance College Yellow Jackets fell in non-conference action to Ohio Northern University, 4-2, at Wander Field in Ada on Wednesday.

The Polar Bears started the scoring in the first inning, as Luke Klinehoffer doubled and then scored on a single to left field to give ONU the early 1-0 lead.

Defiance tied the game in the second, as junior Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich.) led off the inning with a base hit. Sophomore Jude Neary (Toledo/Cardinal Stritch) followed that up with a double to get Konwinski to third, before junior Tanner Stippich (Lima/Allen East) drove him in on a fielders' choice to tie the game at 1-1.

The first three Polar Bears reached base in the bottom of the second, before a sacrifice fly put ONU in front, 2-1. The next two batters singled and had another sac fly to put Ohio Northern out front, 4-1, after two frames.

The teams combined for just one hit in the next two innings before Defiance struck again in the fifth. With one out, junior Tyler Weaver (Defiance) singled to right center to get the rally going. After a strikeout, freshman Nate Kaffenbarger (DeGraff/Indian Lake) singled to center, before a 2-out, run-scoring single by junior Garrett Sierra (Defiance) brought Weaver home to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Yellow Jackets garnered a base-runner in three of the last four innings, but could not bring any more runners past home plate, as Ohio Northern knocked off Defiance, 4-2.

Konwinski suffered his second loss of the season for Defiance, throwing just two innings and allowing four runs on six hits. Sophomore Kody King (Cecil/Fairview) threw three hitless frames in relief, allowing only one walk, before freshman Cohen Nies (Logansport, Ind./Lewis-Cass) threw the final three innings, allowing two hits and striking out a pair of Polar Bears.

Konwinski and Neary led the Yellow Jacket bats, as they both finished the contest with a double and a single.

Defiance is set to return to action on Thursday, Mar. 29 as they travel to Fort Wayne, Ind. to take on the University of St. Francis. The game will be played at the World Baseball Academy and will begin at 4 p.m.