Jackets Drop Game to Transylvania Before Rain Moves In

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance and Transylvania were able to complete the first of two scheduled games on Saturday afternoon at Rutter Field, before rain moved in and forced the suspension of the second contest. TU won the opener, 10-6, and built a 1-0 lead in game two before play was halted.

DC freshman hurler and Defiance High product, Stephen Leskow, made his first collegiate start in the opener and cruised through a scoreless first before a Yellow Jacket error ignited a Transylvania rally in the second. The miscue was followed by a walk and four singles back up the middle that led to a 3-0 lead for the Pioneers.

The margin would swell to 7-0 with a pair of TU runs in the third and fourth frames, before Defiance capitalized on a hit batter and an error to plate its first run of the day without collecting a hit.

The Jackets would remain hitless into the sixth, until Brent Kremer reached on an infield single and Tim Pitro followed with a single to center field to score Kirk Jesse and trim the deficit to 10-2. Keith Wade and Matt Chidester would follow with a pair of two-run singles to bring DC within 10-6, but the final two batters of the inning were retired to end the rally.

DC could do no further damage in the seventh, going in order to finish the 10-6 loss in seven innings.

Kremer, Pitro, Wade and Chidester recorded DC's only four hits of the game, with all four coming in the form of a single. Transylvania countered with 15 hits and saw the top three batters in the lineup combine for eight hits in 13 at bats.

Defiance (12-17, 4-9 HCAC) and Transylvania (18-13, 8-8 HCAC) will look to conclude the series with a doubleheader on Sunday. The action is set to begin at 10:00 am and will pick up where it was stopped on Saturday in the top of the third inning, with TU batting with the bases loaded and holding a 1-0 lead with two outs.