DC Wraps-Up Franklin (Ind.) Series with Split

DEFIANCE, OHIO   --  The Defiance College baseball team defeated Franklin (Ind.) College, 11-10, in walk-off fashion in game one, but fell to the Grizzlies, 13-5, in the second game of a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader to conclude the three-game series at Craig A. Rutter Field.

Defiance, 9-10, 4-7 HCAC) started out the day with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning in game one on a two-RBI double by senior Matt Staels (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse).  Franklin (11-13, 4-7 HCAC) took over the lead with a three-run third thanks to a three-run homerun, making the score 3-2.  The Yellow Jackets moved back ahead on the scoreboard with three runs on a RBI double by senior Chris Donese (Kettering/Fairmont) and RBI base hits by sophomore Quinten Harrington (Sandusky/Perkins) and junior Ben Weber (Troy/Lehman Catholic).  The back-and-forth pace continued with the Grizzlies tallying five runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh for their 10 overall scores.  DC crossed the plate in the sixth and four more times in the eighth, that included a two-RBI single by junior Gary Levengood (Beverly Hills, Fla./Lecanto), that tied the game at 10-10 sending the game into extra innings.  The Jacket defense recorded three straight outs in the top half of the ninth.  Defiance then led off its half of the inning with a single by junior Ryan Kohlhofer (Walbridge/Lake).  Following a sacrifice bunt to advance Kohlhofer into scoring position, Donese delivered on the game-winning base hit to score Kohlhofer to give the Jackets the thrilling 11-10 victory.

Both teams combined for 29 hits in the game, with DC posting 16 hits.  Donese led the way going five-of-six with a pair of runs scored and four RBI.  Levengood went three-of-four to go along with two RBI.  Harrington, Weber and senior Joel Musser (Center Line, Mich./Center Line) all had two hits in five at-bats to round out the multi-hit performances.  Harrington also had a run scored and RBI, while Weber added a runs scored and two RBI and Musser also scored a pair of runs.

Four pitchers saw playing time for the Jackets with sophomore Dave Blanch (Alliston, Ont./Banting Memorial) getting the start and going five full innings allowing three runs on six hits and had one strikeout.  Freshman Jacob Green (Defiance) pitched the final inning and ended up as the pitcher of record to claim the win after a perfect inning of relief with one strikeout.

In the nightcap, Franklin led early with two runs in the top of the first and third innings for a 4-0 advantage.  DC cut the deficit in half with two runs in the bottom of the third on a defensive error with bases loaded.  The Yellow Jackets later tied the game at 4-4 with two more runs in the seventh on a two-RBI single by Kohlhofer.  The game remained tied heading into the ninth where the Grizzlies exploded for nine runs in the top half of the inning that included a three-run homerun, to give Franklin a 13-4 lead.  Defiance led off the bottom of the inning with a solo homerun by Harrington, his first of the season.  But the run would come a little too late as the Grizzlies' high-scoring ninth proved to be enough and went on to win by the final of 13-5.

Harrington, Staels, Kohlhofer and junior Royce Laurendeau (Clyde) all recorded multiple hits.  Staels was two-of-three and scored a run.  Harrington, Kohlhofer and Laurendeau all finished two-of-four.  Harrington also scored a run and RBI, while Kohlhofer added a run scored to go along with two RBI and Laurendeau also scored a run.

On the mound, senior Aaron Grasing (Carmel, Calif./Carmel) started the game and pitched six innings, but would end up with a no decision.  Grasing allowed four runs on five hits and struck out two batters.  Green also saw time on the mound in game two, but this time ended up with the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, on one hit in a third of an inning.

Defiance is scheduled to travel to North Manchester, Ind. for a HCAC single nine-inning game against Manchester (Ind.) University on Tuesday, Apr. 7.  The first pitched is slated for 4:15 p.m.