Yellow Jackets dropped in series opener at Anderson

Final: Anderson 12, Defiance 3
Box Score: Click here

ANDERSON, Ind. – Two big innings by the Anderson Ravens propelled them to a 12-3 victory over the Defiance Yellow Jackets to open up the three-game, weekend series at Don Brandon Field on Friday.

The loss marks the ninth straight loss for Defiance to open conference play while they lost their 12th straight overall as DC now stands 3-20. The Ravens improved to 14-12 and 3-6 in the HCAC.

After Defiance held a 1-0 lead after a half inning, Anderson added an unearned run in the second against starter Cohen Nies (Loss, 2-4) and two more scores in the third to grab the lead. 

The big hurt came with the bases full during a five-run fourth inning. Following three straight Anderson singles to fill the sacks, Nies (Logansport, Ind./Lewis Cass) walked in a run before Justin Reed unloaded on a grand slam to left-center field to put the Ravens up 8-1. 

Defiance got two of those runs back in the sixth, but Anderson immediately answered with four more runs. A one-out double and single knocked Nies out of the contest and the first batter faced by Jeremy Russo (Clinton Township, Mich./Fraser), Trey Dorton, doubled in both runners. Two batter later, Graham Reedy tripled in Dorton before a walk and fielding error let a fourth run pass in the inning.

Alex Morr (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) led the offense for Defiance with two hits and the two-run single in the sixth. Josh Vischer (Genoa, Ohio/Genoa) added a pair of hits along with Dylan King (Las Vegas, Nev./Ed W. Clark) while the team accounted for 11 hits and nine walks but could only muster three runs.

Anderson worked 16 hits against Nies, Russo and Damarius Taylor (Mansfield, Ohio/Ontario), who worked a scoreless eighth inning on one hit allowed. After Defiance was able to knock Anderson starter Landen Southern (Win, 3-2) out in the sixth, a trio of Ravens combined for 3.1 scoreless innings in relief to keep Defiance at bay.

The Yellow Jackets and Ravens wrap up their weekend series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.

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