Strong Pitching Pushes Yellow Jackets to Extra Inning Victory

BEREA, OHIO - The Defiance College baseball team continued their busy schedule on Sunday as they took on Alma College in a game hosted by Baldwin Wallace. It took 11 innings to split the sides, with DC prevailing 2-1. 

Alma struck first in the affair, picking up one run in the first inning of action. From there, the sides were slotted into a pitching battle. 

Daniel Tomalak (Tecumseh, Mich. / Clinton) remained on the mound for seven innings for the Purple and Gold. The sophomore allowed seven hits on the day, never allowing more than two in one inning. 

Still trailing by one, Jack Powell (Commerce Twp, Mich. / Walled Lake Northern) took over the pitching duties. Powell, allowing three hits and just one walk, picked up his second win of the season for his efforts. 

Down by one, the Yellow Jackets headed to the plate in the top of ninth. Ben Bucklew (Archbold / Archbold) singled to put the tying run on base. Michael Gilliland (Napoleon / Napoleon) dropped a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher to move Bucklew to second. With just one out Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich. / Allen Park) hit a double to left field, bringing in Bucklew to equalize the affair. 

After a scoreless 10th inning, the Yellow Jackets saw a potential winning run reach base, this time Gilliland reaching on a single. With Konwinski up again, the senior belted yet another double into the outfield, grabbing his second RBI of the day and giving DC the 2-1 lead.

Grant Curavo (Northwood / Cardinal Stritch Catholic) was called upon to complete the win for Coach Derek Woodley's Yellow Jackets. The junior faced just three batters, grounding out the first two before seeing the Scots' last hope fly out to right field. 

Defiance improves to 7-3-1 after the weekend in Berea. DC will return to action Wednesday, March 20th as they head to Albion for a 4:00 pm start.

The Purple and Gold will play their first game of the 2019 season at Rutter Field on Thursday, March 21, as they welcome Ohio Northern to campus.