Big eighth inning not enough in 5-6 DC Baseball loss

FRANKLIN, Ind.—The Defiance College Yellow Jacket Baseball team scored four eighth-inning runs but were unable to outlast the 8-2 Franklin Grizzlies in their HCAC opener in Franklin, Indiana on Friday afternoon.

All of the Jackets’ late game scores were unearned as they capitalized on two errors and two hit-by-pitches by the Grizzlies. Eric Tipton led DC at the plate with a 2-for-3 and the team’s lone run-batted-in, when he sacrificed flied to centerfield in the fifth to bring in Phil Kosier.

Mike Mirabelli got the loss on the hill for Defiance, going 4.2 innings, allowing five earned runs and five walks while striking out four. Derek Hanson went the final 3.1 innings giving up no earned runs on two hits with four Ks.

Jerremy Neibert led the Grizzlies with a 2-for-3 day at the plate with four RBI and a home run.

The Jackets are now 1-8 on the year and 0-1 in the HCAC. They will look for revenge tomorrow when they face Franklin in a twin bill beginning at noon on the FC campus.