DC Baseball Sweeps Mott

Flint, MI – The Delta College baseball team kept their post-season hopes alive with a sweep of Mott Community College, winning the first game 10-8 before completing the sweep with a 12-9 extra inning victory in the night cap.  With the wins, the Pioneers are now 11-9 in conference play and 24-19 overall on the season.

Game one saw Mott take a quick 1-0 lead before Delta tied it in the third despite being no-hit.  That would change in the fourth inning, however, as Derrek Clyde launched a two-run, opposite field homerun in the fourth to give Delta a 3-1 lead.  Mott answered this time, though, with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-3. 

In the fifth, DC plated three runs to go up 6-3 with a bases loaded walk and a Justin Heinlein two-RBI single. They would add another run in the sixth to take a four run lead before Mott answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning to chase starting pitcher Cody Orban and take an 8-7 lead heading in to the seventh. 

With two runners on and one out, Zack Booth singled home Tyler Kelsey to tie the score at 8-8.  A Brady Marwede grounder scored Heinlein with the go-ahead run and Booth scampered home on a throwing error for the final margin. 

Ethan Lesperance was credited with the win in relief of Orban while Ty Robbins threw the bottom of the seventh to pick up his third save of the season.  The win improves Lesperance's record to 2-1 on the year.  Offensively, Delta was led by Derrek Clyde with two RBI's, two walks, two runs and two stolen bases.  Justin Heinlein added two hits, two RBI and a run.

In all, Delta drew 12 walks and was plunked three times.

The nightcap saw the Pioneers down 9-2 heading in to the fifth inning before scoring four runs courtesy of three hits and three walks.  Ty Jones had a two-RBI single in the inning as Delta drew within three runs of the lead at 9-6.

In the sixth, a Dean Marais fly ball scored Justin Jurek to make it 9-7 while a Tyler Robbins single scored Tyler Kelsey to make it 9-8.  After a Drew Harding single moved Robbins to third, Ty Jones laced a single to center to score Robbins and tie the game at nine apiece.

Meanwhile, Jake Lesniak entered the game in the bottom of the inning and struck out the side to keep it tied before getting Mott 1-2-3 in the seventh to force extra innings. 

Back-to-back singles by Jordan Jachens and Dean Marias put runners at the corners with one out before a Drew Harding walk loaded the bases.   A perfect squeeze bunt by Jones scored Jachens and gave Delta the 10-9 lead.  A Watson Moore walk scored Marais and a Zack Booth sacrifice fly plated Harding to make it 12-9 Delta before the inning was over. 

Lesniak once again threw a perfect inning to finish the game and pick up his second win against one loss. Offensively, the Pioneers were led by Ty Jones with three hits and four RBI while Ty Robbins added three hits and two runs.  Dean Marais, Jordan Jachens and Derrek Clyde also had two hits apiece.

The Pioneers drew 10 walks in the game bringing their daily total to 22 walks and three hit batters for 25 free passes at the plate.

Delta next plays in Livonia against Schoolcraft on Thursday.  First pitch is scheduled for 2pm.