Bluffton Takes Rain-Shortened Game Against DC

BLUFFTON, Ohio  --  Defiance headed to Bluffton on Tuesday afternoon in search of its second win over the Beavers in the last three days, but the host Bluffton squad overcame an early 2-0 DC lead and took the 11-3 victory. The game was called after six innings due to rain and lightning in the area.

The Yellow Jackets wasted no time in denting the scoreboard, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. DCs first three batters reached base safely as Lenny Koesters singled up the middle to start the game before a two-base error moved LeTroy Harris to second with Koesters hustling to third. Jeremy Hawkins then singled through the left side to plate both DC runners.

The lead would be gone as fast as it was built however, as Bluffton put its first five hitters on base and pushed three of them across for the 3-2 advantage. The Beavers then plated tallies in the second and third innings for the 5-2 lead.                       

David Jackson single handedly ended the stretch of five unanswered runs by Bluffton with one swing in the fourth inning. Jackson led off the inning with a home run over the right-center field wall to trim the deficit to 5-3.

That was all the closer the Jackets would get, as Bluffton put the game away with six runs in the fifth to take the 11-3 lead before the game was called one inning later.

Hawkins (1-2, 2 RBI) and Jackson (1-3, 1 HR) had the only runs batted in for DC and Koesters and R.J. Chidester were the only other two players to hit safely in the game for the Jackets.

Tim Kay (2-3) went the distance for the Beavers, holding DC to three runs on four hits and striking out four in his six innings.

Dustin Zizelman (3-4) took the loss for Defiance after surrendering seven earned runs on 11 hits in four innings.

Defiance (11-23, 6-13 HCAC) will close out its 2007 campaign this weekend when it hosts Hanover (13-22, 4-13 HCAC) for a single game on Friday and two on Saturday at Craig Rutter Field.