DC Baseball Drops Series Finale Against Bluffton

BLUFFTON, OHIO  --  Defiance College baseball looked to complete a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference series sweep against Bluffton University, but fell just short, 5-3, against the Beavers in Bluffton, Ohio.

Defiance (13-24, 10-14 HCAC) struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning that came on a two-run home run by junior Glen Collier (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) for an early 2-0 lead.  Bluffton (15-20, 8-15 HCAC) got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 2-1 ball game.

In the bottom of the third, Bluffton took the lead with two runs on a run-scoring single that was later followed by a double, making the score 3-2.  

The margin remained a run until the top of the eighth when the Yellow Jackets scored the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly by senior Quinten Harrington (Sandusky/Perkins) with runners at first and third base and allowed Collier to score.  The Beavers answered the DC score again with two more runs in the bottom of the inning to make the score 5-3.

The two runs by Bluffton would prove to be the difference maker as the Jackets hit into consecutive outs in the ninth, giving the Beavers the two-run win.

Defiance had four hits in the game by four different players.  Collier ended the game one-of-two with two runs scored and two RBI.  Harrington finished hitless in the game, but did tally an RBI.  Senior Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) went one-of-four and scored a run.

Senior Nick Watkins (Lima/Central Catholic) pitched seven innings for DC, and would end up with a no decision.  Watkins allowed three runs, two earned, on eight hits and struck out three batters.  Sophomore Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park) pitched the final inning and suffered the loss to fall to 2-3 on the year.  He gave up two runs on three hits and had one strikeout.

Defiance is scheduled to host Anderson (Ind.) University in the final HCAC series of the year beginning tomorrow (Thursday, May 4) at Craig A. Rutter Field.  The game is set to begin at 4 p.m.