The Jackets ran through the Colonels of Centre College in their first outing of the year, winning 15-5. Eric Sprague got the win, striking-out the only three batters he faced in the first inning. Jake Linder and Ryan Leininger led DC, going 2-4 and 3-4 respectively. Richard Trick added four RBIs on the day, also going 2-4.

Defiance was either ahead or tied for the lead late in every one of their next nine games, but could not find a hit when they needed it, or allowed untimely hits late in the contests.

Against #6 nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins, the Jackets had the bases loaded in the first inning with one out, before grounding into a double play to end the threat. That would prove to be costly as DC lost 3-9 to the Blue Jays.

In their final contest of the trip, quiet Jacket bats spoiled a 3-run, four strike-out performance by James Yenser as Defiance fell to Framingham State 2-3.

Several Jackets displayed impressive skills on the trip. Leininger ended the trek with a .485 batting average, scoring 11 runs while driving in five. Eric Tipton hit .467 while Linder maintained a .440 average with the team's only home run against Salem State. Leinginger, Tipton, Trick and freshman Lenny Koesters were all perfect in the field with 1.000 fielding percentages.

The Jackets will use the motivation and experience of their spring trip as they return to the state of Ohio to face Mt. St. Joseph on Saturday in Cincinnati to open HCAC play.