Waterman Hurls Jackets Past Calvin in Season Opener

DANVILLE, Ky. – Sophomore Darin Waterman struck out 10 batters over six innings of work and added a pair of base knocks to help Defiance post a 6-1 victory against Calvin on Saturday at Centre College. The Jackets saw Calvin rebound in the second contest, taking a 14-2 victory to split the doubleheader.

Waterman was the story in the opener, as the Celina, Ohio native allowed only four hits and one walk in his six innings of work on the bump for the Purple and Gold. Waterman did not allow an extra-base hit and yielded only one run, while striking out 10 Calvin batters.

Waterman was in the middle of a team effort at the plate as well, knocking in a pair of runs and scoring another. Andy Habecker also added a pair of RBI with a run scored and freshman Chris Donese blasted a home run in his first collegiate outing.

The Jackets struck first in the top of the fourth inning with an unearned tally after Habecker reached on a walk and advanced to third on an error. Bryn Lehman then brought Habecker home with a ground out for the 1-0 Defiance lead.

Habecker then stroked a two-run single in the fifth inning to push the spread to 3-0 and Donese left the yard to open the sixth frame and claim a 4-1 cushion for the Jackets. Waterman then put the game away with a single to plate Brent Kremer and Aaron Helland, before Alex Schomaeker worked a scoreless seventh to seal the 6-1 Defiance win.

Calvin (1-1) turned the tables on the Jackets in the nightcap however, using a six-run fifth inning and a five-run sixth inning to blow open a 3-2 ballgame midway through the contest.

Aaron Patterson excelled on the mound for the Jackets, holding Calvin without a hit and striking out three over the final two frames of the game.

Brad Kremer picked up DC's only RBI of the second contest, while Helland and Brent Kremer notched the lone runs of the affair.

Defiance (1-1) will return to play on Sunday with a doubleheader against Centre College beginning at 1:00 pm.