DC’s Walk-Off Winner Propels Jackets to a Series Split

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Yellow Jacket baseball team won game two of its doubleheader against Mitchell College in dramatic fashion on Tuesday afternoon, as freshman Ryan Kohlhofer lifted a one-out single over the left fielder's head plating pinch runner Ryan McLaughlin in the bottom of the eighth inning to deliver the Yellow Jackets a 6-5 victory.

DC's Patrick Masopust reached first base to lead off the bottom half of the extra-inning frame after being hit by a pitch. The Jackets then subbed McLaughlin in to pinch run for Masopust and subsequently moved McLaughlin to second on a sacrifice bunt from Brent Kremer. The Mariners then intentionally walked Joel Musser to set the stage for Kohlhofer's heroics.

Earlier in the game, the Jackets wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as the Purple and Gold bats produced four runs in the first inning. Kremer was responsible for much of the damage, as the junior stepped into the box with the bases loaded. Kremer ripped a base-clearing double to score the Jackets first three runs of the game. Later in the inning, Musser had an RBI groundout to tack on one more run for DC.

Kremer struck again in the fifth inning with another RBI double to tack on a much-needed fifth run for the Yellow Jackets.

On the defensive side, the Defiance College bullpen played a huge role in the outcome of the game. After giving up five runs, two of which were unearned, in the first three and two-thirds innings, relievers Aaron Patterson and Alex Schomaeker silenced the Mitchell bats. The duo combined to go four and a third innings of shutout baseball, while only conceding one hit and one walk. Schomaeker earned his first win of the season in the performance.

Earlier in the day, the Jackets did not fare as well in the first game of the series. The Purple and Gold pitching was roughed up for eight runs, six of which were earned.

The DC offense did not produce much better results than the pitching in the morning game, as the offense only mustered two runs on four hits. Defiance lost the first game of the doubleheader by a final of 8-2.

The Purple and Gold's record moves to 2-2 on the spring break trip and 4-2 on the season. DC has a off day tomorrow and then is back in action on Thursday, March 14, as the squad plays one game against Lakeland. The contest is set to begin at 10:00 a.m.