Jackets Win in 11 Innings, Split Twinbill with MSJ

DEFIANCE, Ohio  --  Cameron Cunert delivered a game-winning, two-RBI double in the bottom of the 11th inning as Defiance pulled out a 4-3 victory in the opener on Saturday, before losing, 3-1, in the second game to the College of Mount St. Joseph.

The Lions looked to break open a tightly contested 1-0 ballgame in the top of the sixth inning when they loaded the bases with just one out. Brandon Portales got DC out of the jam as he cut down the lead runner at the plate on an attempted squeeze bunt and followed that by inducing a harmless fly to center to escape the threat with no damage.

David Jackson led off the bottom of the sixth with a pinch-hit single before Ben Gates entered as a pinch runner and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kirk Jesse. A dropped infield pop up fueled the Yellow Jacket rally and a bunt single from LeTroy Harris loaded the bases with just one out.                      

Tim Pitro then provided the big blow, slapping a line drive through the right side and allowing Gates and Lenny Koesters to race home for the 2-1 DC lead.

After Portales issued a leadoff walk in the seventh, Pitro was summoned to the mound to protect the one-run lead. MSJ bunted the runner to second before Pitro struck out Justin Houston for the second out. DCs closer then moved to within a single strike of ending the game, but Ryan Meyer battled back from a 1-2 count to work it full before tying the game with a single to left field.

Defiance threatened in the bottom half of the seventh as it had runners on first and second with two outs but failed to push the winning run across.

The Lions mounted rallies in the ninth and 10th innings but failed to break through as Dustin Zizelman stranded a runner at third in the ninth with a two-out strikeout and the top of the 10th ended as Chidester tagged a runner out in an attempted steal of home.

MSJ finally broke through in the 11th as a successful double steal put two runners in scoring position before a perfectly executed suicide squeeze pushed the go-ahead run home.

Pitro wasted no time responding to MSJs run in the top of the inning by leading off the bottom half with a single. Brad Timofeev then reached and scampered to second on a wild throw from Matt Flamm to put the tying and winning runners in scoring position.

DC then pinch hit with Cunert who notched his first collegiate hit in the form of a game-winning, two-run double down the left field line to end the 11-inning marathon.

The Yellow Jackets flashed the leather all game long as Harris, Koesters and Mike Hill all made diving catches in the outfield. The pitching was also solid with Portales allowing only one earned run in six innings, Pitro tossing two scoreless frames and Zizelman (3-3) picking up the victory with three strong innings of relief.

The second game started with a two spot in the top of the first for the Mount and John Strittholt cruised from there as MSJ took the 3-1 win.

Strittholt (5-1) pitched into the seventh inning and allowed just five hits and one unearned run. Tim Murphy closed out the seventh for his second save of the year.

DCs pitching was nearly as solid behind Timofeev and Cunert. Timofeev went 5.1 innings and gave up two earned runs, while Cunert picked up the final five outs without giving up a run.

Mike Hill and Keith Wade each had a pair of hits as the duo combined for all but one of the Yellow Jackets hits in the nightcap.

Defiance (10-16, 5-8 HCAC) will host Thomas More on Tuesday at 4:00 pm.