DC Drops Game at Manchester

N. MANCHESTER, Ind. – After having the HCAC contest between Defiance College and Manchester College rained out two days in a row, the two teams finally took the diamond on Thursday with the Spartans earning a 10-2 win.

Manchester led the entire way, putting its first two batters of the game on base and eventually scoring them for the early, 2-0, advantage. The lead would steadily grow to 6-0 heading into the top of the eighth, before the Yellow Jackets narrowed the deficit to 6-2.

Michael Dushane doubled to left field to start the inning and Braden Brugler followed that up with a walk. A single off the bat of Kirk Jesse loaded the bases, before an RBI ground out from Tim Pitro and a sacrifice fly from Brad Rittner brought home Dushane and Brugler for DC's only two runs of the evening.

The host Spartan squad (15-11, 8-4 HCAC) immediately responded, taking momentum back and putting the game out of reach with a four spot in the bottom of the eighth to seal the 10-2 win.

Jesse paced the Defiance offense with a 3-4 day at the plate, while Dushane went 2-5 with a run. Rittner and Casey Kahsen provided the only other two hits of the game for the Jackets.

Nick Picciano (2-4) was the first of five pitchers to see time in the game and took the loss after yielding four runs and seven hits in 4.2 innings. Ethan Salsbury and Aaron Stewart highlighted the four relief pitchers for Defiance, as each turned in scoreless outings.

Defiance (5-22, 1-10 HCAC) will host Hanover (10-19, 4-10 HCAC) this Saturday and Sunday in the final three-game homestand of the season. The series will begin at 1:00 pm on Saturday with a doubleheader, and close with a single contest on Sunday starting at 12:00 pm.

DC's four-man senior class of Chad Ballee, Nick Picciano, Aaron Stewart and Brad Timofeev will be recognized prior to the start of action on Sunday.