Lansing Out-slugs 'Neers in High Scoring Affair

Lansing, MI – The Delta College baseball team hit the road on Sunday to play the Lansing Stars in the back end of the four game series, dropping the first game by the score of 12-9 before losing game two, 12-5.  The Pioneers are now 11-12 on the season and 2-4 in conference play while Lansing improves to 19-5 on the year and 9-1 in conference play.  The games, despite being played at West Side Park in Lansing, were considered home games for the Pioneers as Wickes Park is still unplayable at this time. 

Game one saw Lansing jump on the scoreboard first, plating six runs in the top of the second with the big blow being a grand slam blast off of starting pitcher Thomas Fortney.  In the bottom of the inning, Delta answered with three runs of their own.  The Pioneers tied the score at 6-6 in the bottom of the third as Tyler Snover blasted a three-run homerun, the first of his college career.

Lansing pushed across runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to up their lead to 12-6 heading in to the bottom of the seventh but Delta wasn't giving up.  Three runs on four hits and two walks in the inning cut the score to 12-9 but with the game tying run at first, Lansing was able to get out of the scrape.  Six Delta players had multi-hit games led by Snover's three hit, three RBI and two run explosion.   Fortney was dealt the loss to drop to 1-2 on the season.  He gave up six earned runs on nine hits while striking out four.

Game two once again saw Lansing take a commanding lead after a big inning to win going away.  With Delta in the lead 2-1, Lansing tied the game with a single run in the third to make it 2-2.  The Pioneers once again took the lead in the fourth with a single run before Lansing answered with a run of their own in the fifth to make it 3-3.  A disasterous sixth inning saw the Stars plate five runs and Delta couldn't stop the bleeding in the seventh as LCC plated another four runs to go up 12-3.  A Z Westley two-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh was too little too late, however as the final score was 12-5 in favor of Lansing.

Snover once again had a big game at the plate, going two-for-three with a double and a run while Brady Leppek and Jeff Wright also had multi-hit games.  Justin Jurek took the loss on the mound, throwing five innings and giving up four earned runs while striking out four.  His record evens at 2-2 on the season.

"This was the best hitting team I've seen in my six years of coaching in this league," said Delta Coach Danny Smith about the Lansing offensive barrage.  "We made good pitches – they hit.  We make great pitches – they hit."

"It wears you out because there is someone on base, every single inning.  Their offense doesn't allow your pitchers to get comfortable."

"I'm pleased with how we played for not practicing outside in four weeks and it was nice to see our offense start to come to life."

Delta next plays a 'home' game on Tuesday as they travel to Port Huron to finish up the four game series against St. Clair County Community College.  Despite playing at St. Clair, Delta will once again be the home team.  Game time is scheduled for 2pm.