Jackets rally to snap losing streak during split at Aquinas

ROCKFORD, Mich. - The Defiance Yellow Jackets used a seventh-inning rally to pick up their first win in 10 games and nearly did it a second time as they split their doubleheader against the Aquinas Saints, winning 7-5 and losing 7-6, at Meijer Sports Complex on Saturday.

Game 1: Defiance 7, Aquinas 5
The Yellow Jackets and Saints played to a 4-4 tie until the Saints grabbed the lead on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Gunner Gregg, Tim Bobek, Tyler Dehan and Alex Rodriugez III all delivered RBIs over the first three innings for DC while starting pitcher Blake Bowman ate up five innings. He was lifted in the sixth for Tyler Sickmiller following a leadoff walk, which ultimately came around to score. Defiance worked back-to-back walks to create some traffic on the bases to start the seventh and had runners on the corners following a fielder's choice. Connor Gephart came through with an RBI single to tie the game at 5-5. Then Dehan socked the game-winning, two-run double to right that scored Gephart all the way from first. Sickmiller took care of business in the bottom of the inning to lock up the win with three strikeouts.

Game 2: Aquinas 7, Defiance 6
Defiance grabbed an early advantage on productive outs in the first by Gregg and Gephart. The Saints posted six runs in the second inning to take control of the game, taking advantage of a pair of Yellow Jacket errors. Andy Yoder stabilized the Jackets on the hill and turned in 4.2 innings of relief with just one earned run allowed. He was followed by shutout relief from Aerion Gipson and Evan Bowers to keep the door open for the comeback attempt. Defiance grabbed two runs in the fourth and single runs in the fifth and sixth to tie the game. The Saints broke the 6-6 tie in the seventh inning as Travis Weide held the Jackets off the board during the final three innings of the contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Tyler Dehan led the offense in Game 1 with three hits and three RBIs, which were each single-game bests for his career. He also collected a hit in the second game, finishing 4-for-8 at the plate for the day. He also had a double in each contest to push his total to three two-baggers in the last four games.
• Jacob Hild, Gunner Gregg, Connor Gephart, Alex Rodriguez III and Kolbe VanderLeest also record multi-hit games during the course of the doubleheader as DC combined for 21 total hits.
• Hild had a three-hit game in Game 2 with a double, joining Dehan in collecting four hits for the afternoon.
• Tyler Sickmiller's two scoreless innings brought his ERA in WHAC games down to 1.80, spanning his last six appearances of 10.0 innings.
• Aerion Gipson also extended his scoreless outings streak to three games.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets host Siena Heights on Tuesday morning for a makeup doubleheader at Defiance High School. First pitch of the first contest is scheduled for 9 a.m.

-JACKETS-