Late Game Rallies Lead to Baseball Split with Bluffton

BLUFFTON, OHIO - A pair of 7-6 games saw the Defiance College baseball team split the day with rival Bluffton on Tuesday afternoon. They Yellow Jackets held off a late game rally in game one, before falling just short in game two. 

Defiance scoring in game one was kicked off in the third inning with a strong three run outing. With two men on base, Tanner Stippich (Lima / Allen East) singled, bringing in the first DC run. Jude Neary (Toledo / Cardinal Stritch Catholic) stepped up next, driving in two more to give DC the early lead. 

After the Beavers tied the action, Defiance posted two more runs in the ninth via a Grant Vickery (Bellevue) home run and a Ben Bucklew (Archbold) RBI.  A solo shot from Stippich in the 9th had DC leading 7-4 with the Beaver's last shots up to bat. 

After two runs for Bluffton, DC was staring at a bases-loaded two-out situation. Coach Derek Woodley called upon Grant Curavo (Northwood / Cardinal Stritch Catholic), who quickly gathered the last out of the game. 

Game two saw the Yellow Jackets score quickly, gathering one run in the top of the first, before going on a dry spell until the seventh.

Down three, DC posted a five-run inning to turn the tide on the Beavers. Vickery knocked in another RBI, after hitting a single to bring home Stippich. In a hectic play, Neary also found his way home via an error on the throw from right field. With pressure on the home side, DC made quick work of a handful of mistakes, jumping out to the 6-4 lead. 

In the bottom half of the inning, Bluffton rallied for three more runs, ultimately holding on for the 7-6 win. 

Defiance now holds a 10-6-1 record, with a 1-1 mark in HCAC play. The Yellow Jackets will return home on Saturday, April 6, as they host Transylvania at 12:00 pm. DC's busy schedule will continue with a home double-header with Anderson on Sunday, April 7, at 1:00 pm.