Jackets erupt for 28 runs in doubleheader sweep at Kent State Tuscarawas

NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio – Defiance College wallopped Kent State Tuscarawas with wins of 12-1 and 16-8 in doubleheader baseball action on Tuesday. The wins push the Yellow Jackets to 6-19 on the season, passing last season's win total and making the team 4-4 in the month of April.

In the first contest, Johnny Hammerstein led the charge with his first victory and held Tuscarawas off the board during the first four innings of the game. While he threw zeros on the board, the Jackets built him a 12-0 lead starting with a four-run second inning. Marquez picked up her first RBI as a Yellow Jacket after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Gunner Gregg followed with a two-run single into center field before Marquez scampered in on a wild pitch during the next at bat. Defiance mustered just three hits in the second game but worked nine walks and were hit by 11 pitches.

In the second game, the Yellow Jackets shook off a seven-run first frame by the Golden Eagles and scored their last 15 runs unanswered. While the offense found their groove, Elisa Marquez quieted the Tuscarawas bats over six innings of relief and yielded just one run to earn the win. Marquez also struck out three hitters.

Jaron Gase put DC on the board in the second with a solo home run, the first of his career at DC. The four-run fourth inning was done with walks and singles, but was effective to trim the deficit to 8-5. Two more came around in the sixth to make it a one-run game before a nine-run seventh gave the Jackets the lead for the first time. In that inning, Kolbe VanderLeest delivered two RBI singles and Alex Iserman connected on a go-ahead, two-run double. Trent Murdock followed the bit hit by Iserman with a two-run homer to left.

BRINGING THE STING

• Alex Iserman had a career day with four hits, including a double and three RBIs, in Game 1. 
• Kolbe VanderLeest also had a big day at the plate during both games, starting 3-for-6 with two RBIs in the first contest before earning his way on base four times and scored four runs in Game 2.
• Jack Brubaker-Flood also scored four runs in the Game 2 win thanks to three walks and a single.
• Gunner Gregg and Connor Gephart each picked up hits while starting both games. Gregg finished the day 2-for-7 with a double and four RBIs. Gephart went 2-for-3 with one walk and a double.
• Jaron Gase hit his first homer of the season while Trent Murdock slugged his seventh.
• Johnny Hammerstein's six strikeouts were a season-best and highlighted his first win of the campaign.
• Six innings of work on the mound were the most by Elisa Marquez during her college career and second winning decision.

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets return home to begin the home stretch of the season after playing the last 12 away from Rutter Field. This weekend, DC entertains Transylvania for a three-game series against the second-place team in the HCAC standings. Saturday will feature a doubleheader beginning at noon followed by a single contest on Sunday afternoon.

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