Baseball Sweeps Transy in Home Opening Weekend

DEFIANCE, OHIO - For the first time in the 2019 season, Defiance baseball took the field at Craig A. Rutter Field. To the pleasure of a large contingent of Defiance faithful, the Yellow Jackets swept Transylvania University 6-2 and 10-6. 

Leading the way offensively for DC, was senior second baseman, Garrett Sierra (Defiance). Sierra tallied a team-high four hits over the two games, while also driving in four RBI. 

A quick moving game one saw neither side jump to a distinctive advantage early in the contest. Transy plated the first run of the day in the fifth inning with an RBI-single. 

Down 2-0 in the eighth, Defiance bats started making headway. With Lucas Thomeier (Wickliffe) and Grant Vickery (Bellevue) on base, Sierra hit a shot to right field, evening the contest. The Purple and Gold were not done yet. After Sierra scored on an erroneous play, Nate Kaffenbarger (DeGraff / Indian Lake) doubled to drive in two more Yellow Jacket runs. Tanner Stippich (Lima / Allen East) was caught trying to take an extra bag, but not before Kaffenbarger found his way home, putting DC up 6-2. 

From the mound, Troy Konwinski (Allen Park, Mich. / Allen Park) went seven innings for Head Coach Derek Woodley. The senior allowed seven hits while striking out two Pioneer batters. Zac Brazen (Oxford / Talawanda) collected the win with his one inning of hitless pitching. 

Game two saw similar results for the Purple and Gold. This time, with two big-hitting innings, the Yellow Jackets shot to a 10-6 win. 

After jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first, DC looked to put space between themselves and the Pioneers. The bottom of the third saw Jude Neary (Toledo / Cardinal Stritch Catholic) and Thomeier collect two RBI a piece, while Kaffenbarger knocked home another to increase his day total to four. 

After a big sixth inning, DC found themselves in cruise control with a 10-2 lead. Transy mounted a comeback in the eighth, knocking in three runs, but could not quite catch up to the Yellow Jackets. 

Daniel Tomalak (Tecumseh, Mich. / Clinton) moved to 2-1 on the season with his victory from the mound. The sophomore threw for six innings, allowing eight hits, two runs, and striking out three. 

Defiance improves to 12-6-1 on the season with a 3-1 mark in HCAC play. The Yellow Jackets will return to action with another HCAC double-header at Rutter Field on Monday, April 8. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm.