Pioneers Sweep St. Clair

Port Huron, MI – The Pioneers hit the road for the 24^th straight game to start the 2017 season on Tuesday as they headed to Port Huron to take on St. Clair County Community College (SC4) in the final two games of the four game series with the Skippers.  After splitting a double-header a week earlier, Delta would sweep this time around winning in exciting fashion in game one, 8-7 before blowing out SC4 11-1 in the nightcap.  The sweep brings the DC overall record to 13-12 while they even their record in the MCCAA at 4-4. 

The Pioneers fell behind in game one as St. Clair went up 1-0 on two hits and an error before Delta tied it with a run in the bottom of the first.  DC scored a single run in the second and two in the third to go up 4-1 before St. Clair cut the lead in half with a run of their own in the fourth to make it 4-2.  Three walks and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dean Marais extended the Delta lead to 5-2 heading in to the sixth.

That's when St. Clair put up five runs on three hits, two errors and hit batter to take a 7-5 lead and chase Pioneer starting pitcher Ethan Lesperance from the hill.  Delta went down in order in the bottom of the sixth before relief pitcher Jeff Wright sat the Skippers down 1-2-3 in the seventh to keep it a two run game.

In the bottom of the seventh, Hunter David led off the inning with a double before Z Westley drew a walk to put the game tying run aboard.  A Marais single to right scored David and put runners at second at third with the score, 7-6.  Ty Robbins would then squeeze home pinch runner Peyton Jurek to tie the game and put the game winning run at third base.  Zach Schirmer would win it in walk off fashion as the freshman from Bay City Western laced a single to left through a drawn in infield to score Marias and give DC the comeback win, 8-7.

Wright was credited with his first college win on the hill throwing one inning and striking out one.  Hunter David went two for two with two runs and a stolen base while Z Westley hit his fifth home run of the year, a two-run shot to left. 

"It's nice to have instant offense at your disposal," said sixth year head coach Danny Smith.  "We seem to struggle after five innings and need to figure that out but the energy from the men and the feeling that we would come back was awesome to see."

Delta jumped on SC4 in the second game, scoring two runs in the first, second, third and fourth inning before scoring three runs in the fifth and inducing the mercy win, 11-1.   Robin Van Orden picked up his third win on the season against no defeats on the mound, throwing all five innings and giving up one earned run on five hits while striking out one.

Offensively, Delta was led by David once again as the 'Catfish' went 4-for-4 with three singles and a two run homerun for six RBI's while scoring twice.  Dean Marais (single, double), Z Westley (two singles) and Tyler Snover (two singles, two runs) also helped in the win offensively. 

The Pioneers next play tomorrow in a non-conference double-header at Alma College before hosting 16^th ranked Jackson on Friday.  Tomorrow's games begin at 3pm.