Yellow Jackets fall twice to UNOH on Senior Day

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance Yellow Jackets were defeated 16-2 and 15-2 by the UNOH Racers in Sunday's Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference doubleheader at Defiance High School.

The Yellow Jackets (14-31, 7-17 WHAC) recognized the program's eight seniors between games, which served as DC's final regular season games at home this spring. The Racers (31-14, 21-3 WHAC) kept sole possession of first place in the conference entering the last week of the season while Defiance is among 6 teams vying for the final 3 spots remaining in the WHAC Tournament.

Game 1 - UNOH 16, Defiance 2
A big start by the Racers included a pair of 3-run innings to start the game while DC dipped into its bullpen for senior Blake Bowman in the second inning. After Bowman sat the Racers down in order in the third, Connor Gephart broke up the hitless line for the Yellow Jackets with a 2-out single followed by a double from Bradyn Shaw. The shutout ended moments later when senior DH Kolbe VanderLeest ripped a 2-run single to left for the team's only runs of the contest. UNOH grapped a pair in each the fourth and fifth before erupting for 5 runs in the sixth. The Jackets offense was limited to six hits, including a pair from Logan Hudson who also drew one of two walks in the game, while Racers pitcher Zach Cabell whiffed 9 hitters on his way to a winning decision.

Game 2 - UNOH 15, Defiance 2
A 9-run second by the Racers quickly put DC against the ropes in the second contest. After starting the inning with three walks and a pair of singles, UNOH's Cesar Grau swatted a grand slam before Casey Barnes later added a 3-run blast with 2 outs in the inning. The lead swelled to 11-0 after a pair in the third but Gephart helped spark another run-scoring frame for the Jacekts in the fourth. Hayden Kanagy led off the frame with the first of his 3 hits in the game and moved up on Gephart's second knock of the afternoon. A prime opportunity quickly faded after back-to-back infield flies, but Dominic Jarjis smacked an RBI single to end the shutout effort. UNOH responded with their final 4 runs of the game in the fifth, but the Jackets got a run back when Anthony Silvera Jr. doubled in Dylan Barger all the way from first with a shot to the left-center fence.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

• Kolbe VanderLeest accounted for the team's lone RBIs in the first contest and finished 1-for-3 in his last home start.
• Anthony Silvera Jr. shook off an 0-for-4 first game with his 11th double of the year during Game 2.
• Elisa Marquez appeared in both games, making the start at second in Game 1 and went 0-for-2 and made her first pitching appearance of 2026 in Game 2. During her lone inning on the hill, Marquez caught Grau looking for a strikeout to reach 10 punchouts in 17.1 career innings at DC.
• Justin Hall came off the bench to play second base in both games and had a pair of plate appearances. In the first game, Hall plugged a single to left for his first collegiate hit. He also worked a 2-out walk in the sixth during Game 2.
• Greg Kita was tabbed the starting third baseman in the first ballgame and went 0-for-2.
• Colin Danek was used as a pinch runner in the second ballgame after Kanagy's 2-out single, and Danek swiped second base for his first collegiate steal.
• Blake Bowman worked his way out of the second inning of Game 1 and held the Racers to 3 runs before turning in the only 1-2-3 inning of day DC's pitching staff in the third.
• Joseph O'Neil got the start on the mound in Game 2 and worked around some traffic for a scoreless first frame.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets travel to Rochester Christian next Friday and Saturday for a 4-game series to close the regular season. First pitch for each doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. at Bill Shinsky Field.

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