Delta Does the Splits

Flint, MI - Delta pitcher Drew Schultz has started five games on the mound this season and has a 2-0 record to show for it.  Three times he's pitched five plus innings only to get a no-decision.  Game two of the Region XII double-header between the Pioneers and Schoolcraft was no exception. 

Holding on to a 4-3 lead heading in to the final frame, Delta gave up an unearned run that allowed Schoolcraft to force extra innings before succumbing in the eighth and losing, 10-6.  Delta had won game one, 6-4.

An unearned run on a passed ball strike three gave the visiting Ocelots a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but Delta responded with two runs of it's own in the bottom of the frame courtesy of a Nolan Raymond double that scored Cam Fowler and Matt Fisher.  A quick 1-2-3 inning by Schultz brought the Pioneers back up in the bottom of the second where they scored two more runs to take a 4-1 lead.  Three hits, a walk and an error allowed Schoolcraft to tie the game at 4-4 in the fifth inning but Delta would take the lead in the bottom of the sixth.

Evan Pocius led off the sixth with a single to left - one of four hits he collected in the contest - and was moved to second when Cam Fowler reached on a bunt single.  Nick Johnson laced a one-out hit up the middle to score Pocius and give Delta a 5-4 lead heading in to the seventh before Schoolcraft forced extras and won the game.  

And there was Schultz, another win taken away and another no-decision.  He threw six innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out nine.  Of the Ocelot's 10 runs in the game, just two were earned as the Pioneer defense made multiple defensive errors throughout the game, both physical and mental.

In game one, Delta jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Cam Fowler drew a leadoff walk and Matt Fisher was hit by a pitch before both scoring on a Carson Longstreth single up the middle.  The Ocelots would tie it up with two of their own in the top of the second before taking a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning.  Delta tied the game back up in the bottom of the frame as Randy Rangle doubled home Nick Johnson.

With the score still 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Kyle Belger led off with a walk and was bunted to second by Fowler.  Fisher was then plunked to put two runners on before a Nick Johnson fielders choice put runners at first and third with one out.  Johnson then stole second and Longstreth was walked to load the bases before a wild pitch scored Belger and a Nolan Raymond double scored Fisher and Johnson for a 6-3 DC lead.  Schoolcraft scored a run in the top of the seventh off of Delta closer Joe Tany who had entered the game in relief of starting pitcher Jackson Lund for the final 6-4 score.

Lund picked up his first college win, throwing six innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits whiles stirking out six.  Nolan Raymond led the offense with three hits and two RBI.

With the split, Delta is now 7-10 overall on the year, 2-2 in Conference play and 1-1 in Region XII play.  They travel to Jackson to play the Jets in a MCCAA East four game series on Friday and Saturday.