Yellow Jackets fall to Taylor 7-2 in midweek clash

UPLAND, Ind. - The Defiance College Baseball team dropped a midweek contest against NAIA power Taylor University Tuesday afternoon 7-2 on a cloudy and cool day in the Yellow Jackets first game of the season north of Kentucky.

After playing games in Kentucky and Florida for the first few weeks of the season, Defiance (6-5) battled with the Trojans (8-10) but were unable to put hits together in a timely manner in the afternoon contest just across the state line in Indiana.

The Yellow Jackets started off the game quickly, scoring a run in the top of the first. After a pair of walks, Gary Levengood doubled down the lf line, scoring  Chris Donese from second base. Defiance was unable to capitalize anymore though, stranding two in the inning.

Defiance didn't hold the lead for long though, as the Trojans answered with three runs in the bottom of the first by way of a three-run home run from Austin York. Taylor put two runners on with three singles to start the game. One base runner was picked off of second, attributing to the only out prior to the home run.

Defiance played well at the plate, recording nine hits while also drawing seven walks. Taylor finished with 10 hits and just three walks. Despite reaching base more in the game, the Yellow Jackets struggled to get timely hits, stranding several scoring opportunities.

DC had a pair of hits in the second inning, but stranded both base runners, totaling four left on in the first two innings. The Yellow Jackets stranded another runner in the third inning before Taylor extended its lead with a run in the fourth inning.

In the fifth inning, Defiance cut the Taylor lead to two with its second run of the game. Aaron Helland started the inning with a walk and Chris Donese reached with an infield single between shortstop and second base. Darin Waterman capitalized on a runner in scoring position with a single to left.

Defiance struggled from that point, getting picked off second and stranding another base runner in scoring position.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Trojans added another two runs after a walk and a double allowed for a two-RBI single.

Defiance reached with a pair of walks in the sixth, but were unable to generate a hit, with the only other player to reach in the inning coming from a fielder's choice play. In the seventh, Defiance loaded the bases with one out, but a strikeout and a fielder's choice ground out stranded the bases loaded for DC in the inning.

Taylor added an insurance run in the eighth, before shutting Defiance out in the ninth to seal a 7-2 victory.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Friday with the series opener against Earlham in the opening weekend of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.