Yellow Jackets Come Up Short Against Rockford

FT. MYERS, FLA.  --  The Defiance College baseball team fell short of Rockford (Ill.) University, 7-3, in a non-conference game at the Gene Cussic Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla.

The Yellow Jackets had a total of nine hits in the game and were led by the duo of senior Gary Levengood (Beverly Hills, Fla./Lecanto) and freshman Michael Gilliland (Napoleon) who both had three hits.  Both players finished three-of-four and Gilliland also added a run scored and RBI.  Sophomore Dom Gentile (Defiance) also had a multi-hit day going two-of-four overall and scored a run.

Defiance (2-3) scored the game's first run on a RBI-single by Gilliland in the bottom of the second inning that gave the Jackets the early lead.  Rockford (4-1) took the lead in the top of the third with a three-run homerun making the score 3-1.  DC got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning on a double play with a runner on third base narrowing the deficit to 3-2.  

The score remained the same until the top of the seventh when the Regents added a run and then took a commanding lead with a three-run ninth inning to extend the margin to 7-2.  Gilliland led off the DC ninth with a triple and later scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek).  The run would come with two outs, however, and Rockford would get DC to hit into the game-ending out before any additional runs could cross home plate, clinching the 7-3 victory for the Regents.

On the mound for the Jackets, junior Nick Peters (Macomb, Mich./Eisenhower) started the game and pitched six-and-a-third innings allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits and had two strikeouts.  Sophomore Jacob Green (Defiance) came on to pitch an inning and two-thirds in relief and allowed no runs or hits and had one strikeout.  Freshman Tyler Davie (Cincinnati/Anderson) pitched the final inning and gave up three runs on four hits and struck out one batter.

Defiance will have its "off day" tomorrow and will resume its schedule on Thursday (Mar. 10) with a single nine-inning game against Wabash (Ind.) College.  The game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.