Dingee, Harding Lead Delta to Sweep of Lake Michigan

Wickes Park – The Delta College baseball team picked up a sweep of Lake Michigan Community College today, beating the visitors 7-2 in game one before winning 14-7 in game two.  The wins push the Pioneers overall record to 20-17 on the year while evening their conference record at 9-9.

Austin Dingee threw a lights out gem in game one, limiting the Red Hawks to three hits over a complete game seven inning effort while striking out nine and walking just one.  The win improves his record to 4-1 on the season.

Lake Michigan got on the board in the second inning via a solo homerun before Delta pushed two across in the bottom of the inning on a Watson Moore RBI double and a Brady Marwede RBI ground out.  Delta added to their lead in the third when Derrek Clyde doubled before eventually scoring on a wild pitch. 

Lake Michigan made it a 3-2 game in the top of the fifth before Delta exploded for five runs in the bottom half of the inning courtesy of three hits, a walk and an error to go up 7-2.  Lake Michigan wouldn't threaten over the final two innings.

The Pioneers were led offensively by Watson Moore's two doubles and Justin Heinlein's two singles.

Game two saw the Red Hawks once again score first and take a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the first.  Delta would plate five runs in their half of the inning, however, as three walks, a three RBI knock by Drew Harding and a hit batter did the damage. 

Lake Michigan continued to battle back by scoring a single run in the second and two runs in the fourth to tie the game at five apiece.  Another run in the top of the fifth gave them the lead before another Harding single tied it up at 6-6 heading in to the sixth.

That's when Delta would put up an 8-spot in the bottom of the sixth to go up 14-6 before closing the game out, 14-7.  Cody Orban picked up the win in relief of Thomas Fortney by throwing the final two frames to improve his record to 4-3 on the year.   Drew Harding had a big day at the plate to lead Delta, going four-for-four with five RBI's offensively.

Delta now travels to Cuyahoga Community College on Sunday to play a non-conference, Region XII game against the tenth ranked team in the country.  Game time is scheduled for 1pm.