Pioneers Split with #16 Jackson

Midland, MI – The Delta College baseball team faced #16 Jackson Community College on Friday, winning a high scoring affair in game one, 15-13 before dropping a nail biter in the nightcap, 1-0.  The games were played at Northwood University due to the field conditions at Wickes Park.  The split leaves Delta with a 15-14 overall record on the year and 5-5 in the MCCAA.

Game one saw Delta jump on Jackson early, plating five runs in the bottom of the first before Jackson answered with five of their own in the top of the second.  Delta re-took the lead in the bottom half, 6-5 before Jackson scored six in the third to make it 11-6 but once again the Pioneers answered in the bottom half of the third to cut the lead to 11-9.

A single run by the Jets in the fourth gave them a four-run cushion heading in to the bottom of the sixth where Delta would use four hits, two walks, two errors and a bunch of small ball to put up a six spot and take the lead once again, 15-12.  Down to their final at-bat, Jackson pushed across a run and had the game tying run in the on-deck circle when Delta closer Ty Robbins got two strikeouts and a fly ball to finish the threat.  It was his third save on the season.

Kane Bourbina picked up the win by throwing two complete innings and giving up just one hit and no runs while striking out two.  Offensively, Delta was led by Zach Schirmer's two hit, four RBI effort as well as Robbins who went three-for-three with two runs and two RBI.

Game two stood in stark contrast to the first game as Delta starting pitcher Tyler Kirkwood squared off with Jackson's starter and dueled to a 1-0 game in favor of the visitors.  Jackson was able to score in the first inning on a pair of hits and a wild pitch and that was it for the scoring.  Delta threatened to score twice but a pair of missed suicide squeeze attempts went awry.

Offensively, Dean Marais led Delta with two hits.  Both teams will play again tomorrow in Jackson to finish off the four game series.  Game time is scheduled for 1pm.