DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College evened its season record at 6-6 with a 7-2 victory over Lourdes College on Wednesday in the 2012 home opener for the Yellow Jackets. DC never trailed in the contest and used a two-run home run from Jonathan Murphy in the eighth to seal the victory.
Murphy's two-run shot down the left-field line highlighted an eight-hit showing from the Purple and Gold bats, as the junior center fielder ended with a pair of hits, three runs scored and the two RBI that came on his first collegiate round tripper.
Chris Donese and Darin Waterman also added multi-hit games, with Donese going 2-3 with a run, two RBI and a stolen base, while Waterman collected two hits for the seventh time during his current eight-game hitting streak.
Bryn Lehman added a pair of runs batted in and make several sparkling plays with the glove, racking up six put outs from his shortstop position and helping to turn one of three DC double plays on the afternoon.
Ryan McLaughlin (1-1) carried the load on the bump for the Yellow Jackets, tossing five shutout frames at the Gray Wolves and allowing only three hits in the outing. McLaughlin also earned three strikeouts and needed only 57 pitches to log his first collegiate victory.
After leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning, Defiance got all the offense it would need in the second with a three-run outburst. The frame started with a Lourdes error and a hit batter that set the stage for a go-ahead double just inside the third-base bag by Donese. Lehman then scored Braden Brugler and Donese with a soft single to right for the 3-0 lead.
A two-out single from Waterman in the fourth extended the spread to 4-0, before Murphy singled and later scored on a suicide squeeze from Donese for the 5-1 edge after six innings.
Lourdes cut into the lead with a tally in the eighth and threatened for more by putting five runners on the bases in the inning but the Jackets escaped with a three-run cushion intact.
Brent Kremer then opened the bottom of the frame with a walk and scored on the two-run blast from Murphy that ended the scoring and sealed the 7-2 Defiance victory.
DC (6-6) will open league play on Saturday with a doubleheader against Rose-Hulman (9-4). The weekend set is slated for a 12:00 pm start at Craig A. Rutter Field.