Yellow Jackets dominate opener, stunned in second contest at KSUT

NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio - The Defiance Yellow Jackets held the momentum from a lopsided 15-3 win to start their doubleheader at Kent State Tuscarawas on Tuesday before the Golden Eagles completed a 9-3 comeback win in Game 2.

The Yellow Jackets (9-17) scored in every inning of the first contest, beginning with a three-run first frame on RBIs from Jacob Hild and Andy Yoder. The Golden Eagles (7-9) broke up Jeffrey Varga's shutout bid with a lead-off double, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly in the third frame. Varga and the offense kept up the beat as the senior right-hander earned his second straight winning decision, which was closed out by Donovan Armstrong who retired all seven hitters he faced.

DC went right back to work offensively in Game 2 when Gunner Gregg socked a one-out double and scored on an RBI knock from Connor Gephart. Gepart created the second run of the inning after he reached third base and took advantage of a lob back to the mound with a steal of home. That second run turned out to be a crucial run that stood as the difference in the ballgame until the sixth inning.

Left-handed starter Blake Bowman gave Defiance another solid pitching performance to preserve the one-run lead. He set a career-high with eight strikeouts through his five-inning start and held the Golden Eagles to two hits through the first five frames. After surrendering a pair of leadoff hits to start the sixth, Bowman was relieved by Josh Gase. DC needed three relievers to get through the bottom of the sixth as KSUT plated eight runs on eight hits to spoil the lead the Jackets held since the start of the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Defiance snapped a four-game losing streak with the win in the first game. It was also the team's ninth win of the season, matching last season's win total through just 25 games.
• The 15 runs scored by DC was their third performance of double-digit runs this year.
• In Game 1, all nine Defiance hitters reached base led by Jacob Hild with three hits and three RBIs and Andy Yoder with three hits and four RBIs. Gunner Gregg and Anthony Silvera Jr. also reached base three times with two hits and two walks. Silvera scored four runs, while Alex Rodriguez III drove in three to go with two walks.
• Jeffrey Varga improved to 2-3 on the season with his win in Game 1, setting a new personal career high for winning decisions in a season.
• Blake Bowman's five-inning outing was his longest start of the season.
• Connor Gephart led DC with three hits in Game 2. Gunner Gregg and Tim Bobek each connected on the team's lone extra-base hits in the second contest.
• Jacob Hild finished 5-for-6 with two walks, a double and three RBIs for the afternoon.
• The Yellow Jacket offense left 11 hitters on base during the loss in Game 2.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets are back in action for a WHAC doubleheader on Saturday at UNOH. First pitch against the Racers at Racers Field is scheduled for 12 p.m.

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