Yellow Jackets Drop Series Opener Against Pioneers

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  The Defiance College baseball team suffered an 8-1 loss against Transylvania (Ky.) University to begin a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference three-game series against the Pioneers at Craig A. Rutter Field.

Transylvania (9-10, 4-2 HCAC) got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the third inning on a single to make the score 1-0.  The Pioneers then took control with a pair of runs in the fifth and three more scores in the top of the sixth to increase the margin to 6-0.

Defiance (5-13, 2-4 HCAC) scored what turned out to be its only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on a foul ball to right field that was deep enough to allow senior Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) to tag and score from third base.

The deficit remained, 6-1, until the ninth inning when Transylvania tacked on two more runs to make it an 8-1 game.  DC would get runners on first and third base in its half of the inning, but with two outs.  Before any runs could cross homeplate, the Pioneers got the Jackets to record the game-ending out, sealing the victory.

Defiance had four hits in the game with freshman Everett Kissel (Defiance/Tinora) recording two of those hits and finished two-of-three overall.  Sophomores Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park) and Tyler Weaver (Defiance) were the other two players to record a base hit.  Reed finished hitless on the day, but did score a run, while junior Glen Collier (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) posted the team's lone RBI.

On the mound, senior Dave Blanch (Alliston, Ont./Banting Memorial) started the game for Defiance and pitched eight complete innings, giving up six runs, four earned, on 11 hits and struck out four batters.  Freshman Kody King (Cecil/Fairview) pitched an inning of relief and gave up two runs, one earned, on one hit and added a strikeout.

Defiance and Transylvania will face each other again tomorrow (Sunday, Apr. 2) with a doubleheader to conclude the series.  The first game is scheduled to begin at noon at Rutter Field.