Jackets Fall Short of Rockford in Pitchers Dual

FT. MYERS, FLA.  --  The Defiance College baseball team came out on the losing end of a 2-1 decision against Rockford (Ill.) University in a single nine-inning game in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Defiance (2-4) put up five hits in the game with five different players each recording a hit.  The Yellow Jackets got a strong performance on the mound from senior pitcher Nick Watkins (Lima/Central Catholic) who pitched all nine innings and allowed two runs on eight hits and had one strikeout.

DC got on the board early with a run in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a RBI-single by sophomore Tyler Weaver (Defiance) with runners on second and third base.  Rockford (4-2) quickly answered with a run of its own in the top of the second to even the game at 1-1.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the eighth when the Regents broke the stalemate on a RBI-single to take a 2-1 advantage.  Following a scoreless bottom of the eighth, Defiance got runners on second and third base in the ninth, all with only one out.  But the Rockford defense came up with the final two outs before any runs could score to hold on for the 2-1 win.

Senior Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) scored the lone Jacket run in addition to going one-of-four at the plate.  Weaver also finished one-of-four to go along with the RBI.

Defiance will have its "off day" tomorrow and will resume play on Thursday, Mar. 9 with a single nine-inning game against Saint John's (Minn.) University.  The first pitch is scheduled for noon.