Late Rally Comes Up Short for DC

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.  --  Defiance College found itself in a 5-0 hole after four full innings of play on Tuesday against Ramapo before rallying back to eventually put the go-ahead run on base in the ninth. The Jackets comeback effort ended with a double play and a disappointing 7-5 defeat.

DC dented the scoreboard with a run in the fifth and drew to within one with a three-spot in the sixth to trim the deficit to 5-4. Ramapo answered with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the sixth to extend its lead out to 7-4 before the two sides traded zeroes into the final frame.

The top of the ninth started with consecutive one-out walks for the Yellow Jackets and back-to-back singles pushed a run across and loaded the bases. Needing a hit to tie the game, DC bounced into a game-ending 1-2-3 double play.

Defiance rapped out six hits on the day compared to only five from Ramapo, but the slow start and early five-run deficit proved to be too much to overcome.      

Brad Timofeev reached base in all four trips to the plate and scored a pair of runs, stroking a double in his only official at bat while also reaching on two hit by pitches and a walk. Mike Hill was a perfect 2-2 from the plate and Tim Pitro drove in three runs.

Ron Martin got the start for the Yellow Jackets and worked six innings while allowing six earned runs and retiring three Ramapo hitters on strikes. Nick Picciano was solid in relief, tossing two scoreless frames to close the game.

Defiance (1-4) will be back in action with a pair of games against Penn State-Altoona starting at noon on Wednesday.