N. MANCHESTER, Ind. – Aaron Helland collected three of Defiance College's nine hits on Tuesday at Manchester but it was not enough to keep pace with a hot-swinging Spartan attack, as the Jackets fell by a 23-4 count in the HCAC showdown.

Manchester came out swinging and put 13 runs on the board on 10 hits in the bottom of the first inning. MC added three more in the second frame, before slowing down and finishing off the victory.

Helland went 3-4 at the plate for the Purple and Gold, with a double, a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI. Brent Kremer came off the bench for a pair of hits in his two at bats and Nick Welling chipped in a two-run double. Brent James and David Riley each went 1-3 with the bat and scored one run.

Todd Odell pitched well in relief for Defiance, holding Manchester (15-7, 6-1 HCAC) scoreless and striking out two over the final two innings of the contest.

DC (4-17, 1-6 HCAC) will look to bounce back on Wednesday, with a 6:00 pm non-conference tilt at Adrian (12-5, 7-1 MIAA).