JOES outlast Minnesota West in 14-Inning Contest

Winter Haven, FL – The Delta College baseball team played two games against Minnesota West but was reward some bonus baseball on the day by winning a 14-inning marathon, 6-2 before finishing the sweep with a 10-6 victory.  The second game was called after six innings due to darkness.

"Crazy, crazy day," said Pioneer skipper Danny Smith.  "We were the first team to arrive at the complex this morning and the last team to leave.  But it was worth it.  They were fun games."

Joe Tany toed the rubber in game one and threw six innings allowing just one unearned run.  He struck out 10 and walked just two batters in his Delta College debut.  The offense for Delta, however was no-hit through seven innings but managed to scratch out a run in the sixth to tie the game 1-1.  Evan Pocius reached via an error and Devin Sempert followed up with a walk before both runners were advanced on a Jarred Cooper bunt.  Aaron Esparza then put down a squeeze to score Pocius.

Guy Henika replaced Tany in the seventh and threw a shut out inning while Kane Bourbina did the same in the eighth inning.  In the top of the ninth, the Pioneers took the lead at 2-1 as Cooper led off with a walk and was replaced with Matt Fisher.  Fisher stole second base and came to third on a wild pitch before Esparza drove him home with a sacrifice fly to center on a bang-bang play at the plate.

Minnesota West battled back in the bottom half of the inning to re-tie the game on two singles and sacrifice.  Delta didn't threaten over the next two innings but Minnesota West found themselves with a runner at third and one out in the bottom of the twelfth.  With Jeff Wright now on the mound for Delta, the Pioneers opted to intentionally load the bases and use a fifth infielder to get out of the jam and preserve the tie.

In the top of the fourteenth inning, Lucas Sella led off with a walk and moved to second when Mitch Morley did the same.  A sacrifice bunt and a squeeze by Evan Pocius made it a 3-2 game for DC.  Two more walks and a two-RBI by Esparza made it 5-2 while two more walks brought home pinch-runner James Rosebrock for the final tally. 

In game two, Delta started with five runs in the bottom of the first inning before giving up three in the second and one in the third to make it a 5-4 contest.  They would then plate another five-spot in the fourth before giving up single runs in the fifth and sixth to win, 10-6.  Jake Wright got the win on the mound throwing all six innings while striking out 10 and giving up four earned runs. 

Offensively for DC, Matt Fisher, Mitch Morley and Zach Schirmer all had two hits while Devin Sempert went three-for-three with two RBI.  Cam Fowler added a hit, a stolen base and two runs as well. 

The ninth ranked Pioneers next play a double-header against #5 nationally ranked St. Cloud.  The game will be on field No. 2 in Auburndale, Florida with a start time of 11:30 am.