Jackets rally late before being walked off at Bluffton

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Looking to salvage the final game of a weekend conference series, the Defiance Yellow Jackets rallied from four runs down to take the lead in the ninth inning but were walked off by the Bluffton Beavers, 8-7, at Memorial Fied on Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets slipped to 2-15 with the team's eighth consecutive loss while the Beavers used the three-game sweep to improve to 4-3 in the HCAC and 9-12 overall.

Trailing 6-2 through three innings, Defiance chipped away at Bluffton's lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Down by a pair to start the ninth, the Jackets were down to their last out as Trent Murdock worked a walk to extend the game and put runners at first and second. Mitchell Roever's third hit of the game combined with a throwing error by Bluffton plated pinch-runner Garret Long and set up a second-and-third opportunity for Jacob Hild. Hild delivered the clutch go-ahead single to left field to bring around Murdock and Roever, giving Defiance the lead entering the bottom of the ninth.

Right-hander Johnny Hammerstein gave the Jackets six scoreless innings of relief and returned to the hill for the ninth. The senior from Michigan was locked in and had faced just one batter over the minimum since a leadoff single to start the fifth. However in the bottom of the ninth, the Beavers connected on four straight singles against Hammerstein capped off by Jack Towell's two-run, walk-off knock to left field that ended the game.

Bluffton started the scoring in the first inning when Justin Maurer socked a two-out, solo homer to center against Defiance starter Gavin Bragg. Defiance responded with single runs in the second and third to grab a 2-1 lead, but the Beavers erupted for five runs in the third, which included an RBI double by Mauer to take the lead they held for much of the game. Maurer finished the weekend 7-for-11 with five extra-base hits and seven RBIs for Bluffton.

The series at Bluffton this weekend was the last time the two institutions would meet in a male team sport at the Division III level. Since 1961, Defiance has played Bluffton more than any other baseball opponent and went 65-71 against the Beavers over that stretch, which included losing the last 12 head-to-head matchups.

BRINGING THE STING

• Mitchell Roever socked his first career home run during the second inning. His 3-for-5 showing at the plate also matched a career-best day at the plate and included three runs with a double.
• Gunner Gregg added his first homer of the campaign during the fifth. His 2-for-5 afternoon from the leadoff spot was his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
• Jacob Hild's go-ahead, two-run single was part of a 2-for-5 day for his second multi-hit game of the year.
• Trent Murdock continues to swing a hit bat since returning to action last weekend with his second two-hit game plus a walk. 
• Kolbe VanderLeest added a base hit and a walk in the designated hitter role to extend his hitting streak to four games. 
• Johnny Hammerstein's six innings of relief matched a career-high in innings pitched, a feat he has now done three times, despite being handed the losing decision.
• As a team, Defiance's 13 hits were the most in a game this season. The pitching staff held up with just one walk issued despite 15 hits and eight runs allowed.

UP NEXT

Defiance hosts Heidelberg for a single non-conference contest on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch at Rutter Field is scheduled for 4 p.m.

-JACKETS-