Panthers Escape with Two Wins Against Defiance

HANOVER, Ind. – The Defiance College baseball team suffered two more defeats by two runs or fewer, pushing the number of times that has happened this season to 13 with 4-3 and 10-8 setbacks at Hanover on Saturday. The Panthers improved to 18-3 on their home field with the victories.

Both sides matched rallies in the opener with two-run frames in the fourth and single tallies in the sixth to take a 3-3 tie into the seventh and final inning. The Panthers delivered the decisive blow in the bottom half, with a walk-off RBI single in the 4-3 Hanover win.

Defiance bounced back with a fast start in the second contest, bolting to an 8-1 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth inning. The lead quickly evaporated however, as HC erupted for a nine-run fifth inning and held on for the 10-8 victory.

Dave Riley led the offensive attack for the Jackets with a pair of hits and five runs batted in during the doubleheader, while also scoring a pair of runs. Aaron Helland also had two hits and added a pair of steals.

Darin Waterman turned in another solid effort on the mound for Defiance, going five innings in the first game and holding the Panthers to two runs, while retiring five batters on strikes. The outing was Waterman's fourth-straight start with at least five innings and five strikeouts, while giving up two runs or fewer.

Clint Hoskins and Aaron Patterson were also efficient out of the bullpen, holding HC scoreless on three hits over 3.2 innings of work.

Defiance (11-23, 4-15 HCAC) and Hanover (21-14, 11-9 HCAC) will conclude the series on Sunday, with a single game starting at noon.