Delta Slugs Its Way To Series Split

Jackson, MI – One day after Jackson and Delta College put up 29 runs in two games, they were back at it again pounding 10 homeruns and inflating pitching ERA's.  Delta dropped the third game of the series in Saturday's opener, 18-14, before winning the nightcap 11-7 to go 2-2 in the series and improve their league record to 6-6.  They improve to 16-15 overall on the year.

Jackson jumped out to a quick 8-1 lead after two innings with a majority of the runs unearned due to poor Delta infield.  The visitors committed three errors in the first and second innings alone and four in the contest.  Just as they Friday evening, however, the 'Neers battled back and put up a seven spot in the top of the third to tie it up.  Jackson plated three of their own in the bottom half, however, taking a 11-8 lead and ending the day for Delta starting pitcher Thomas Fortney.

In the fourth, Delta cut the lead to one at 11-10 and when relief pitcher Dart Booth hung a zero on Jackson in the bottom of the frame – the first pitcher to do so in the game for DC – momentum shifted in favor of the visitors.  Dean Marais hit his first dinger of the year in the top of the fifth and what a big one it was.  The two run, go-ahead blast gave DC its first lead of the game at 12-11 heading in to the bottom of the fifth.

Jackson met Pioneer relief pitcher Ethan Lesperance with a walk and a single before he was lifted in favor of hard throwing freshman Jeff Wright.  But a single and another error gave Jackson two runs and made it a 13-12 game.  Delta couldn't answer the bell in the top of the sixth before a solo shot and grand slam made it 18-12 in favor of Jackson.  DC plated two in the top of the seventh but it wasn't enough.   

Marais and Hunter David led the offense each with three hits and both with a homerun.  Z Westley, Tyler Snover and Zach Schirmer all had multi-hit games as well.  Lesperance took the loss on the bump to drop his record to 2-3 on the season.

While the second game didn't feature a ton of scoring, it did feature a lot of hitting as the two teams combined for 22 hits in a back and forth affair that saw five lead changes before Delta was able to come away with a 11-7 win.  Sophomore second-baseman-converted-to-starting-pitcher Justin Jurek took the mound and despite having shoddy defensive play behind him, was able to pitch in to the seventh while holding a Jackson to five earned runs.  The Pioneers committed three errors in the contest.

With the score at 4-2 in Jackson's favor, Delta plated three runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and four in the sixth to take a commanding 10-4 lead.  Jurek gave up a two-run homerun in the seventh to make it 11-7 before being lifted in favor of Ty Jones on the hill who promptly got three quick outs to end the game.  It was Jones' first appearance on the bump this season.

Offensively, Delta was led by Z Westley's three hits which included two doubles while Ty Robbins, Hunter David, Zach Booth and Jones each had two hits.  Marais, David and Booth all had homeruns.  Jurek improved his record to 3-2 on the season with the win.

Delta is scheduled to next play at home on Tuesday against Region XII foe Schoolcraft College.  It will be the first home game played at Wickes park on the season after 31 straight games played on the road.  First pitch is scheduled for 2pm.