JOES Split Conference Opener

Saginaw Township – Delta College baseball opened the home portion of their season in disappointing fashion Friday, dropping a 12-0 decision to regional rival Schoolcraft before rebounding with a 12-6 victory in the nightcap.  The split leaves the Pioneers at 7-8 overall on the season and 1-1 in the MCCAA Eastern Division.

"We've been stoic for 12 days," said 7^th year coach Danny Smith.  "But so have they so to make an excuse just means we aren't owning up to our own issues.  We did better in game two."

In game one, Schoolcraft starting pitcher Will Buraconak dominated Delta, throwing a complete game four-hitter while striking out 11 and walking just one.  He improves to 3-0 on the season with the win.

Delta was hindered by five errors on the game defensively, despite the efforts of starting pitcher Drew Schultz.  The freshman right handed pitcher evens his record to 2-2 on the season after throwing five inning and allowing three earned runs on seven hits, a walk and a strikeout.

Offensively, Aaron Esparza and Cam Fowler each had two hits with both of Fowlers finding the gap for doubles.

Game two finally saw the Delta offense show up as the Pioneers pulled out a 12-6 win to even the series.  After Schoolcraft tagged Pioneer starting pitcher Jake Wright for three runs in the top of the third, the Pioneer offense got in to gear scoring five runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Kane Bourbina got things going with a bunt base-hit to third before Dylan Steinke's bunt hit moved him to second with no outs.  Leadoff hitter Zach Schirmer then bunted for a hit to load the bases while Aaron Esparza's suicide squeeze bunt was misplayed in to a two run error to make it a 3-2 game.  Mitch Morley then laid down a perfect bunt for a hit before Devin Sempert grounded into a fielder's choice RBI to tie the score at 3-3.

A Danny Diaz ground out made it 4-3 in favor of the JOES followed by a Brandon Bakos single to left to up the score to 5-3 before the inning was over.  A two-RBI single by Morley scored Bourbina and Schirmer in the fourth before a single by Deven Sempert scored Morley to make it 8-3.  A four run sixth, highlighted by a two-RBI double by Schirmer put the game out of reach at 12-3. 

Jake Wright goes to 2-0 on the season with the win while Joe Tany picks up the first Delta save on the season having thrown the final three innings.  Zach Schirmer led the offense going 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBI while Kane Bourbina went 3-for-4 with three runs.  Mitch Morley had two hits with three RBI's as well. 

Delta will face off against Schoolcraft tomorrow in Livoinia for the final two games of the series.  First pitch is scheduled for 1pm.