Baseball Falls Short of Franklin (Ind.)

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  The Defiance College baseball team fell short of Franklin (Ind.) College, 4-2, in a close game to begin the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference series at Craig A. Rutter Field.

Defiance (8-9, 3-6 HCAC) fell behind early as Franklin (10-12, 3-6 HCAC) scored twice in the top of the first inning to lead 2-0.  The Grizzlies then added to their lead in the fifth on a two-RBI single with runners on second and third to extend the margin to 4-0.  The Yellow Jackets answered the two runs with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning on a fielder's choice play with bases loaded that allowed two runners to score.  The two scores by DC, cut the deficit back to two runs and the margin remained the same heading into the bottom of the ninth.  The Jackets led off the ninth with a single by senior Ian Burkhart (Fremont, Ind./Fremont).  Burkhart would later advance into scoring position on a ground out, but with two outs.  Before he could cross home plate, DC hit into the game-ending out sealing the win for the Grizzlies.

Offensively, Defiance had six hits with Burkhart and sophomore Quinten Harrington (Sandusy/Perkins) both recording two hits.  Burkhart finished two-of-four, while Harrington was two-of-three and scored a run.  Junior Gary Levengood (Beverly Hills, Fla./Lecanto) and senior Chris Donese (Kettering/Fairmont) also had a base hit.

At pitcher, sophomore Matt Clark (Sandusky/Perkins) started the game and pitched seven complete innings giving up four runs on 10 hits and struck out six batters.  Sophomore Nick Peters (Macomb, Mich./Eisenhower) pitched the final two innings and didn't give up any runs or hits.

Defiance will wrap-up the three-game series tomorrow (Saturday, Apr. 4) with a pair of nine-inning games at Rutter Field.  The first game is scheduled to begin at noon.