Baseball Takes Two From Rivier (N.H.)

FT. MYERS, FLA.  --  The Defiance College baseball team improved to 4-0 with its second doubleheader sweep in as many days with wins of 5-0 and 12-6 against Rivier (N.H.) University as part of the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Defiance did all of its damage in the first inning crossing the plate five times that included four RBI base hits.  Junior outfielder Ben Weber (Troy/Lehman Catholic) drove in the team's first run with a double, while junior catcher Gary Levengood (Beverly Hills, Fla./Lecanto), senior first baseman Ian Burkhart (Fremont, Ind./Fremont) and senior infielder Joel Musser (Center Line, Mich./Center Line) all had RBI-singles.  Strong defense along with a solid effort on the mound from senior starter Aaron Grasing (Carmel, Calif./Carmel) held Rivier (1-3) to just three hits in the game to post the 5-0 shutout.

Levengood and Musser led the Yellow Jackets at the plate with a pair of hits each.  Musser finished two-of-two in addition to the RBI and Levengood went two-of-three with a run scored and RBI.  Weber and Burkhart both were one-of-three with a run scored and RBI.  Junior first baseman/designated hitter Royce Laurendeau (Clyde) was one-of-two to go along with a run scored and junior infielder Ryan Kohlhofer (Walbridge/Lake) rounded out the DC hitters going one-of-four and scored a run.

Grasing pitched five complete innings to grab his first win of the season.  He allowed no runs on just one hit and struck out four batters.  Sophomore Nick Watkins (Lima/Central Catholic) came on in relief to pitch the final two innings and gave up no runs and just two hits.  He was also credited with a save, his first of the season.

In game two, Defiance took the early lead scoring two runs in the top of the first inning thanks to a RBI-double by senior infielder Chris Donese (Kettering/Fairmont) and a RBI-ground out by Weber.  The Raiders evened the score with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, but the Yellow Jackets quickly regained the lead in the top of the third with a seven-run frame that included a two-RBI triple by sophomore outfielder Zack Reed (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) to make the score 9-2.  Rivier edged closer with three runs in the sixth, but DC answered the runs again in its very next at-bat by crossing the plate three times on a RBI-double by Burkhart and a defensive error that allowed two runs to score.  The Jackets took a 12-5 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh where Rivier tallied a run, but with two outs.  The lone run would be all that Rivier could muster as the DC defense got the Raiders to record the final out on a strikeout to claim the 12-6 victory and the two-game sweep.

DC tallied 10 hits in the game and was led by Laurendeau who went three-of-four with two runs scored and a RBI.  Other multi-hit efforts included a two-of-three showing by Reed in addition to scoring a run and driving in two runs.  Kohlhofer also had two hits and was two-of-four overall with two runs scored and a RBI.  Donese ended the game one-of-four with two runs scored and a RBI, while Burkhart also finished one-of-four at the plate to go along with a run scored and RBI.  Musser recorded a hit in two at-bats and also scored two runs.

On the mound, freshman Jacob Green started his first collegiate game and got the win, going five innings and allowed two runs on four hits and struck out three batters.  Senior Matt Staels (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) came on in the sixth and gave up three runs, one earned, on two hits.  Junior Chris Douglas (Wixom, Mich./Walled Lake Western) pitched the final inning and gave up just one run on one hit and had two strikeouts.

Defiance will have its "off-day" tomorrow and will look to keep the hot start going when it faces Mitchell (Conn.) College on Thursday, Mar. 12 in a single nine-inning game.  The first pitch is slated for noon in Ft. Myers, Fla.