Extra-innings and big inning sting Jackets in first two games

FT. MYERS, Fla. – Defiance College baseball opened the 2024 season with losses to Alvernia and Hiram at Terry Park Stadium on Monday. The Yellow Jackets fell in 11 innings, 4-3, to Alvernia to start the day ahead of a 7-2 decision facing Hiram.

Game 1 vs. Alvernia

The first game of the season ended in a walk-off defeat in 11 innings when Alvernia's Matt Edwards smacked a one-out, RBI double to left field to bring in the winning run from first base. The game was tied 4-4 after nine innings to force extra innings in a game that saw the first eight runs of the contest scored in pairs.

Tyler Dehan (St. Henry, Ohio/St. Henry) lifted DC to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a double to left-center field. Alvernia responded in the third frame when Edwards singled in two to tie the game. In the fourth, the Golden Wolves took their first lead on a pair of unearned runs that scored on a single through the middle of the infield. Logan Kunkel (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) earned the opening-day nod on the mound and was charged with two earned runs over the first four of the game.

Blake Bowmen (Toledo, Ohio/Start) took the mound in the fourth for the Yellow Jackets and held Alvernia at bay over 5.2 innings, surrendering just three hits. That allowed Defiance within reach to grab a pair of unearned runs in the seventh inning when two scored on a missed catch on a fly ball hit by Jacob Hild (Holly, Mich./Holly). Bowman gave way to Jeffrey Varga (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) for the final out of the ninth and went the rest of the way on the mound.

Game 2 vs. Hiram

After the dramatic ending to the first game of the day, the Yellow Jackets regrouped to retake the field against the Hiram Terriers. Defiance erased a 2-0 deficit in the top of the sixth inning as Connor Gehpart (Lima, Ohio/LCC) plated Gunner Gregg (Graytown, Ohio/Oak Harbor) on an RBI single followed by a sacrifice fly by Dehan. The Terriers exploded for four runs in the home half of the seventh to gain control of the contest again before tacking on another run in the eighth leading to the 7-2 final.

Aerion Gipson (Marblehead, Ohio/Danbury) got the starting nod on the hill for Defiance and completed three innings and allowed a pair of unearned runs in his DC debut. Hiram's first run scored on a throwing error triggered by a steal of third by Hiram's Chaisson Marrs, who scurried home on the play. In the next inning, a one-out error allowed Kobe Hunter on base before he came around on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.

Gavin Bragg (Newark, Ohio/Licking Valley) and Josh Gase (Tiffin, Ohio/Gase) followed Gipson and allowed two runs apiece in their first games in purple and gold. Bragg threw up three zeroes prior to a tie-breaking RBI double in the seventh that knocked him out of the game. Gase took over and allowed a single, hit batter, and struck out a batter before a walk and single allowed three runs, including the inherited runner from Bragg, to score. Tyler Sickmiller (Leipsic, Ohio/Leipsic) was called upon to get the final out of the seventh and yielded one more run on a Hiram sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.

BRINGING THE STING

• Blake Bowman was the only Jacket pitcher to turn in a scoreless outing. His 5.2-inning, three-hit line was the longest scoreless outing of the sophomore's young career.
• Connor Gephart had a strong day in the cleanup spot. After drawing two walks against Alvernia, he started 3-for-3 vs Hiram and also stole a base in each game. For the day, the Lima native went 3-for-7 with two steals.
• Mitchell Roever collected two hits in the second game, one to the opposite field and legged out an infield single. For the day, the senior went 3-for-9.
• Tyler Dehan combined to go 1-for-6 with a walk and three RBIs, which led the team. Dehan also went 1-for-2 in steal attempts.
• Gunner Gregg joined Roever with hits in each game and went a combined 3-for-9, including two hits in the first game of the day. Adding a walk, Gregg reached base four times.
• Alex Rodriguez III started both games at shortstop and picked up his first hits as a Yellow Jacket and scored the game-tying run in the seventh inning against Alvernia.
• Jack Brubaker-Flood drew two walks and scored the first run of the season on Dehan's RBI double in the season opener to highlight his first collegiate action.

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets get back on the diamond on Wednesday to take aim at the first win of the season in a doubleheader against Baruch starting at 9 a.m. at Terry Park Stadium.

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