DC Forces Extras to Advance to Day Three of the HCAC Tournament

TERRE HAUTE, IND. - The Defiance College baseball team defeated Anderson in extra innings of an elimination game on day two of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament hosted by Rose-Hulman. 

Game Two vs. Anderson: Facing elimination in the HCAC Tournament the Purple and Gold struck first as Neary ripped a leadoff single before advancing to second on a Sierra sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Vickery registered the RBI on the next at-bat as he lined a shot to center field scoring the games first run in the top of the third inning.

The Ravens responded in the bottom of the fourth inning as they capitalized on a Yellow Jacket miscue that knotted the contest at 1-1. Anderson claimed the lead later in the inning following an RBI single to left field, 2-1. They would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning to push the advantage to 3-1.

However, Defiance rallied in the top of the ninth as Reese singled to left field advancing senior Tanner Stippich (Lima) to second before sophomore Nate Kaffenbarger (DeGraff) registered the RBI pulling the Yellow Jackets within 3-2. Senior Grant Vickery (Bellevue) connected later in the inning as he hit a hard grounder to second that plated the game-tying run. 

Sophomore Cohen Nies (Logansport, Ind.) would retire the side forcing extra innings were the DC offense remained poise at the plate. With runners on first and second, Kaffenbarger drew a walk that loaded the bases for junior Jude Neary (Toled0) who plated the games winning run with a walk of his own.

Nies entered the game in relief pitching claiming his fifth win of the season with 11 strikeouts.

Game One vs. Rose-Hulman: In the Yellow Jackets day two opener with Tournament host Rose-Hulman junior Jon Brown (Haskins) got the call on the mound pitching five complete innings, striking out two Fightn' Engineer batters.

Rose-Hulman struck first in the contest scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning before a one out walk by senior Garrett Sierra (Defiance) sparked a one-run DC inning. Junior Ben Bucklew (Archbold) followed it up with a double advancing Sierra to scoring position for senior Michael Gilliland (Napoleon). Gilliland delivered as he crushed an RBI single through the left side to cut the deficit to 2-1. 

However, the Engineers tacked on three runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 6-1. 

Defiance looked to rally in the top of the seventh inning as sophomore Michael Reese (Constantine, Mich.) hit a leadoff single to center field before Kaffenbarger registered a hit that advanced Reese to scoring position. Vickery would provide the clutch hit as he reached on a fielders choice that scored Reese, 6-2. On the next at-bat, Bucklew singled to center field registering an RBI to pull DC within 6-3.

The rally would continue into the eighth inning for the Purple and Gold as Stippich hit a double to left field. Reese registered a sacrifice fly that advanced Stippich to third base before Neary singled to the right side scoring the games final run. The Yellow Jackets were unable to capitalize in the top of the ninth inning as they fell to the no. one seed Rose-Hulman, 6-4. 

The Purple and Gold return to action on Saturday, May 12 as they take on Rose-Hulman. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.