Delta Splits on Day Two of Regional

Battle Creek, MI – The Delta College baseball team lost to Sinclair in the second round of the Region XII tournament in Battle Creek today, by a score of 11-7.  After taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning, the Pioneers were able to keep Sinclair at bay until the fourth inning when they gave up three runs to make it 3-3. 

Sinclair went on to score three more in the sixth inning but Delta was able to answer with two of their own in the seventh to pull within 6-5.  Sinclair put the game seemingly out of reach in the bottom of the seventh, however, when they plated five runs to go up 11-5.  Delta loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth but were only able to score two runs.

Tyler Kirkwood took the loss on the mound for Delta.  Offensively the Pioneers were paced by Derrek Clyde with three runs and a hit while Drew Harding had a double and three RBI.

In the loser's bracket, Delta faced off with Kalamazoo Valley and was able to pull out a 10-8 win to stay alive and reach the final four of the tournament.  Ty Jones picked up the win on the mound to improve to 2-1 on the season, pitching five innings and leaving with a 6-1 lead. 

KVCC cut the lead to 8-6 in the sixth before Z Westley's third double of the contest plated two more runs in the eighth for Delta and made it a four run game.  Thomas Fortney came on in relief for the Pioneers and surrendered two runs over two and a third innings pitched to get the save.

Making his return from an injury that sidelined him for the last four weeks, Westley led the offense with three doubles and a run.  Derrek Clyde, Ty Robbins and Drew Harding each had two hits while Watson Moore hit a two-run homerun.

Delta now plays Cuyahoga Community College of Cleveland, Ohio in tomorrow's second contest of the day.  The winner will face off against the loser of Kellogg CC and Sinclair.