Jackets Fade After Fast Start in Rain-Shortened Contest

ADA, Ohio – Defiance waited out a 105 minute rain delay, before jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning of Wednesday's non-conference tilt at Ohio Northern. The hot start would not be enough for the win however, as the Polar Bears battled back for a 6-4 lead before the game was called in the sixth inning.

Aaron Helland got things started for DC by leading off the game with a walk and a steal. Bryn Lehman then singled home Helland for a 1-0 lead just two batters into the game. The lead would double to 2-0 after Andy Habecker's sacrifice fly scored Lehman and a two-run single from Brent Kremer would push the spread to 4-0.

Ohio Northern (13-19) turned the game over to its bullpen to notch the final out of the first inning and a trio of relievers went on to post nine strikeouts over the next 5.1 innings of work. The Defiance bats mustered only one hit during that span and did not score.

The Yellow Jacket lead would begin to slip away in the third inning, when ONU banged out five hits and plated three runs. The home squad would continue the hit parade into the fourth frame, starting the inning with back-to-back singles and eventually scoring three more times for the 6-4 advantage.

DC attempted to rally back in the top of the sixth by putting two runners on the bases with two outs, but the Northern pen held tight and recorded one final out before the game was called due to darkness.

Brent Kremer paced the Yellow Jacket attack with the two-run single, while Lehman had one hit, scored once and drove home one run and Habecker added a hit and an RBI.

Defiance (11-21, 4-13 HCAC) will return to league action on Friday, when it begins a three-game set at Hanover (19-13, 9-8 HCAC) at 4:00 pm.