Jackets swept by conference-leading UNOH

LIMA, Ohio - The Defiance Yellow Jackets went toe-to-toe with the WHAC-leading UNOH Racers during an extra-inning loss but suffered a lopsided loss as the home squad completed the sweep at Racers Field on Saturday.

The Racers improved to 21-8-1 and 10-0 in the WHAC as the reigning national qualifiers remained unbeaten in conference play. The Yellow Jackets dropped to 9-19 and are 1-7 in the conference and finished March 6-11.

Game 1: UNOH 2, Defiance 1 (9 inn.)
The Yellow Jackets suffered their second walk-off defeat of the season in extra-inning fashion to start Saturday's double session. After single runs by both teams through seven frames, neither team put a runner on base in the eighth. Gunner Gregg led off the ninth with an infield hit and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Hild, but the Yellow Jackets were unable to bring the runner around. The Racers notched back-to-back hits to start the bottom of the ninth, which placed runner on the corners with no outs. DC opted to intentionally walk the next hitter but a wild pitch moments later allowed the winning run to scamper home for UNOH.

Gregg gave Defiance another impactful starting effort on the mound, pitching five innings and allowed one run in the fifth. A single and wild pitch placed a runner in scoring position for the Racers and a two-out walk extended the inning to open the door for a pinch-hit single to center.

Defiance created their lone run of the game with small ball in the second. Tyler Dehan reached on a one-out walk, moved up to second on a failed pickoff and then to third thanks to a wild pitch. Blake Bowman came through with an RBI groundout to break the scoreless tie in the early innings.

Game 2: UNOH 13, Defiance 2
The Racers offense unleashed a 13-run, 15-hit effort in the second contest with four innings of three runs or more. The offensive output was highlighted by two late-inning homers of the two-run variety, one by Josh Ledgard during the fourth and the second by Eliomar Otero in the sixth. UNOH was also efficient on the bases with two walks to complement their hit total and stranded just four hitters on base.

Defiance was limited to just four hits scattered throughout the lineup. They scratched the first run of the game without a hit when Anthony Silvera Jr. started with a walk, stole second and scored following two wild pitches. Silvera was also involved in the team's other run when he singled home Tyler Dehan in the fifth.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Defiance combined for six hits in the game by six different players.
• Anthony Silvera Jr., Tyler Dehan and Connor Gephart each worked their way on base in both games by a base hit or walk. Silvera earned his way on base a team-best three times with a single and two walks on the afternoon.
• Blake Bowman recorded his second RBI of the season by driving in DC's lone run of the first Game 1. 
• Gunner Gregg's Game 1 start gave DC a streak of three straight games of at least four innings and three runs or fewer allowed.
• With the two losses, Defiance has dropped seven straight conference games since winning the league opener. It is also the third straight conference doubleheader that the Jackets have been swept. 

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets are scheduled to play at home on Wednesday afternoon against the Cornerstone Golden Eagles. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Rutter Field.

-JACKETS-