DC Drops HCAC Slugfest to Rose-Hulman

DEFIANCE, Ohio  --  Defiance got home runs from Kirk Jesse and David Riley and had seven players record at least one hit, but fell by an 18-7 score to Rose-Hulman on Friday. The game was the first of a three-game series between the teams at Rutter Field.

The Jackets grabbed the lead early with a trio of runs in the first inning. The rally started with two outs after Tim Pitro, David Jackson and Keith Wade all reached base. Aaron Stewart then walked to force in the first run of the game, before Braden Brugler roped a two-run single into right field to give Defiance the 3-0 lead.

The advantage would not last long as the Engineers stormed back with four runs in the second and another in the third to take a 5-3 lead after three innings of play.

A Kirk Jesse homer to left temporarily halted the Rose-Hulman attack and brought Jackets within a single run at 5-4, but the Engineers piled on five more runs in the top of the fifth to put the game out of reach.

Defiance battled back in the eighth, as walks from R.J. Chidester and Brugler put the first two DC hitters on to start the frame. Riley then delivered his first collegiate home run, sending the ball down the left field line and just inside the foul pole for a three-run dinger. That brought DC within 18-7 but proved to be too little and too late for the Jackets.

Derek Eitel (6-2) struggled on the mound with his control for Rose-Hulman but battled through five innings and picked up the win. Brad Timofeev (2-4) took the loss for Defiance after going 4.2 innings.

Defiance sent four pitchers to the mound in the game, with Tony Cornell being the most affective. The freshman lefty tossed 2.2 innings of scoreless ball to close the game.

Riley (1-1, HR, 3 RBI), Brugler (1-3, 2 RBI) and Jesse (1-5, HR) were the hitting stars on the afternoon for Defiance, while Jackson added a pair of hits and a run.

DC will host Rose-Hulman for two more games on Saturday afternoon. The first pitch is slated for 12:00 pm.