Jackets Lose to the Spartans

NORTH MANCHESTER, IND.  --  The Defiance College baseball team traveled to North Manchester, Ind. for the second meeting in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference three-game series against Manchester (Ind.) University, but were defeated by the Spartans, 5-3.

Defiance (10-10, 3-5 HCAC) looked to strike first with bases loaded and only one out in the top of the second inning.  But back-to-back outs to end the inning, held the Yellow Jackets scoreless and kept the game in a 0-0 tie.  Following a lead-off single in the bottom of the third, Manchester broke the stalemate with a two-run homerun.  Later in the inning, the Spartans tacked on another run to increase the margin to 3-0.

Manchester added to its lead in the fourth with another run on a sacrifice fly to make the score, 4-0.  DC ended the possible shutout in the top of the seventh when a sacrifice flyout by junior Quinten Harrington (Sandusky/Perkins) plated sophomore Dom Gentile (Defiance) for the Jackets' first run of the game.

The Spartans answered the run with a run of their own in the bottom of the eighth to extend the margin back to four runs, 5-1, heading into the final inning of regulation.  The ninth inning began with a popup by DC, but then the Yellow Jackets would load the bases again and Harrington would drive in two more runs on a two-RBI single to cut the deficit to a pair of runs, 5-3.  Momentum looked to be in favor of Defiance, but before any more runs could cross homeplate, Manchester recorded the final two outs, securing the 5-3 final.

Gentile was the only multi-hitter for DC, going two-of-four in addition to scoring two runs.  Harrington was one of five other players to record a hit and finished one-of-two and drove in all of DC's runs.

On the mound, junior Nick Watkins (Lima/Central Catholic) got the start and pitched five innings allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits and had one strikeout.  He was also credited with the loss, his first of the season, and is now 4-1 overall.  Sophomore Izzy Martinez (Defiance/Tinora) pitched the final three innings in relief and gave up an unearned run on four hits and also had one strikeout.

Defiance is scheduled to host Heidelberg University in a non-conference single game tomorrow (Wednesday, Apr. 6) at Craig A. Rutter Field.  The game is slated to begin at 4:15 p.m.