Defiance Edged by Ohio Northern

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  The Defiance College baseball team suffered a 5-3 loss against Ohio Northern University in a non-conference, single game matchup at Craig A. Rutter Field.

Defiance (5-12) grabbed the game's first lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning that included a double steal with an ensuing throwing error that allowed senior Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) to score.  Later in the inning, senior Quinten Harrington (Sandusky/Perkins) hit a RBI-single to increase the margin to 2-0.

Ohio Northern (9-10) came right back though and evened the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth on a pair of singles, making the score 2-2.  

The Yellow Jackets regained the lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by junior Glenn Collier (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville).  But the Polar Bears would rally again, this time scoring a combined three unanswered runs, beginning with two runs in the seventh that gave them the lead and then added an insurance run in the eighth to make the score, 5-3.

DC got one runner on base in ninth, but could not mount a comeback of its own as ONU went on to the 5-3 final.

Defiance totaled four hits in the game with four separate players each reaching base safely via a hit.  Both Reed and Collier ended the game with no hits, but Reed added a pair of runs scored and Collier tallied an RBI.

Harrington posted one hit in three at-bats in addition to a RBI.  Sophomore Michael Gilliland (Napoleon) also finished one-of-three and also scored a run.

On the mound, the Jackets used five pitchers with freshman Jon Brown (Haskins/Ostego) getting the start and ended up with a no decision after pitching two innings allowing no runs on two hits and had one strikeout.  Sophomore Tyler Davie (Cincinnati/Anderson) ended up as the pitcher of record and suffered the loss after going 1.2 innings giving up two runs on six hits and had a strikeout.

Defiance is scheduled to host a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference three-game series against Transylvania (Ky.) University this Saturday-Sunday, Apr. 1-2 at Rutter Field.  DC will play a single, nine-inning game on Saturday, followed by a twinbill to conclude the series on Sunday.  The game on Saturday is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.