Jackets Slug Past UM-Morris for Doubleheader Sweep

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Defiance crossed the plate 19 times in two games on Tuesday and took a pair of victories against Minnesota-Morris at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The two wins moved the Jackets to 3-1 during their spring trip, with three games left to play.

Defiance jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first game and Nicholas Bratt cruised into the fourth inning before getting into trouble with two outs in the frame. The Cougars struck for three runs to knock Bratt out of the game, but Brett Belew ended the threat and tossed 2.1 scoreless innings to help the Jackets finish off the 8-3 victory.

Bratt ended with six strikeouts through his 3.2 innings of work on the mound for Defiance, while Belew earned the win, struck out two and did not allow a run in 2.1 innings of relief. Matt Goodpaster also took the mound in the win, working a scoreless seventh inning.

Darin Waterman and Brent Kremer fueled the offense, with each picking up two hits and driving in a pair of runs. Brad Kremer also had two hits and Chris Donese continued his strong play with one hit.

The second game provided even more DC offense, as the Jackets pounded out 11 runs on 14 hits and rolled past UM-Morris for an 11-5 win. Defiance led by as much as 10-2 going into the final inning, before the Cougars finally got to Jake Taylor for three runs.

Taylor took the win on the bump and finished with 6.1 innings of work and only three earned runs allowed. Clint Hoskins recorded the final two outs of the game to cap the six-run victory.

Brad Kremer delivered a key two-run triple in the fifth to highlight a three-hit, four-RBI showing, while Waterman posted his fourth multi-hit game of the week. Brandon Riley and Braden Brugler also joined the hit parade with a pair of knocks each.

Defiance climbed to 4-4 with the two wins and will take Wednesday off, before resuming play with a single contest against Lakeland (4-1) on Thursday at 10:00 am.