DC Drops HCAC Opener at Rose-Hulman

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Defiance College ran into a streaking Rose-Hulman squad on Friday and suffered a 6-1 setback in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener for both squads. 

The win was the sixth-straight for the Engineers (11-4, 1-0 HCAC) since they returned from Florida and cooled a Yellow Jacket squad, which had posted victories in two of their last three outings entering the weekend series.

Rose-Hulman led throughout by scoring in each of the first three innings. The big rally came in the third frame, where R-H pushed three across to open up a 5-0 advantage. The gap would swell to 6-0, before Defiance mustered its lone run of the day in the top of the ninth inning.

Justin Mathias opened the inning for the Jackets with a leadoff single and scooted to second base on a wild pitch. Brad Kremer later stroked a single to score Mathias and break up the shutout bid for Rose-Hulman.

The Jackets missed on several other opportunities, stranding nine men on the bases in the defeat. Brent Kremer and Brent James led the way with two hits each, while James added a pair of stolen bases.

Matt Kaighin pitched well once again for Defiance, holding Rose-Hulman to three earned runs and seven hits in his seven innings of work.

DC (3-11, 0-1 HCAC) will hook back up with the Engineers for two more games on Saturday. The twinbill is slated to begin at noon.