DC Baseball Splits Twinbill at Trine

ANGOLA, Ind. – Defiance College put eight runs on the board in Saturday's opener at Trine University to secure an 8-1 win, before seeing the bats go quiet in a 4-2 loss to the Thunder in the day's second contest.

Kirk Jesse got the Yellow Jackets off and running in the first game, leading off with a single in what was the first of seven-straight at bats to end with a DC hitter reaching safely to open the game. The result of the stretch was Jesse, Brent Kremer, Tim Pitro and Casey Kahsen all coming around to touch home plate and give Defiance the early 4-0 cushion.

The bats would strike again in the top of the third, as Alex Timofeev stroked a two-run double and scored on a two-bagger from Zach Stallkamp. The lead would grow to 8-0 two batters later, as Bryn Lehman's single chased Stallkamp around for DC's second four-run frame of the game.

The outburst would be plenty for sophomore Nicholas Bratt, as the righty cruised through six strong innings of work on the mound for Defiance. Bratt allowed just six hits and one run in his six to move to 2-0 on the season.

Timofeev drove in three runs during the 8-1 victory, while Stallkamp went 2-4 with a double and two RBI and Jesse also had two hits to go along with his ninth steal in as many tries this season.

Jesse sparked another first-inning rally in the second game, reaching on an error and scooting to third on a wild pitch. Pitro then lofted a fly ball deep enough for Jesse to tag up and charge home for the 1-0 edge.

This time the Trine offense would respond however, as the first four Thunder hitters singled to start the third inning. The hit parade gave TU a 2-1 lead and continued, as Trine piled up three runs on five hits in the frame.

The DC deficit would grow to 4-1 before a Matthew Chidester RBI single brought the Jackets within 4-2 in the sixth inning. That would be all either side would get however, as Defiance had to settle for the doubleheader split with a 4-2 setback.

Jake Taylor fell to 1-1 with the loss on the mound for the Jackets. The freshman allowed only one run on four hits outside of the Trine rally in the third inning but the Defiance offense could not break through.

Stallkamp was the lone bright spot with the bat, as he stayed hot at the plate with two more hits, while the rest of the Defiance offense went just 3-for-23.

The Jackets (6-4) will be back on the diamond for two more games on Sunday, as they are set to travel to Albion (2-5) for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm.