DEFIANCE, Ohio – Hanover scored three runs in each of the first three innings and rolled past Defiance by a 15-2 margin on Sunday in the final of three Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference contests between the two teams this weekend at Rutter Field.

The Jackets had a single from Alex Timofeev in the second inning and a double down the right field line in the sixth off the bat of Nick Welling, but did not score until the bottom half of the seventh frame. DC's only rally of the afternoon started with two outs, when Levi Pauli and Dan Samuels drew walks and moved up on a double steal. The duo then raced home with the only runs of the afternoon for Defiance when Hanover dropped a fly ball.

Ryan Valentine and Todd Odell were the lone bright spots on the bump for the Jackets, as Valentine did not allow an earned run in his three innings of relief to lower his earned-run average to 0.71. Odell also entered from the bullpen and turned in a scoreless eighth inning.

Defiance (4-16, 1-5 HCAC) will continue league play on Tuesday in a 4:15 pm start at Manchester. DC will then play at Adrian on Wednesday at 6:00 pm in a non-conference contest.