Baseball Opens Season with Wentworth Doubleheader

Defiance vs Wentworth: Game One / Game Two

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Defiance got its 2008 campaign started on Monday afternoon with a pair of losses to Wentworth Institute of Technology. The Jackets managed only one hit in the opener, losing 5-2, before falling 6-5 in the second game.

The Jackets started fast in the first game, plating a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Kirk Jesse rapped out Defiance’s only hit of the game with a double and David Jackson and Keith Wade each drove home a run.

Nick Picciano made the 2-0 DC lead hold into the third before Wentworth knotted the game at 2-2 with a pair or runs. The Leopards then added three more in the fourth and went on to take the 5-2 victory.

Picciano was solid in the loss, going six innings and allowing only two earned on seven hits and striking out six. Tim Henneman tossed a scoreless seventh frame in his collegiate debut and struck out one batter.

The Yellow Jacket lineup came alive in the second game, piling up 14 hits in the 6-5 loss. Aaron Stewart led the attack with three hits, while Tim Pitro, Jesse, Brent James and Ben Gates each had two hits.

DC led 1-0 after one inning, but would not score again until pushing four runs across the plate in the top of the fifth to take a 5-3 advantage. The lead would not last, as Wentworth tied the game in the bottom half and claimed the 6-5 lead with a tally in the sixth.

Defiance attempted to mount a rally in the top of the seventh, putting a runner on first with one out. The Jackets would then collect three-straight hits but failed to score the tying run after losing a pair of runners on the bases.

Brett King made his debut on the mound for DC in the loss, tossing 4.1 innings and allowing four earned runs. Pat McKee was solid in relief, but took the loss after allowing a run in 1.2 inning of work.

Defiance (0-2) will take on Wentworth again on Tuesday in a nine-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 am. Sophomore righty Matt Wilson is set to take the start on the mound for the Jackets.