By Cort Reynolds
DELPHOS - Host Delphos Jefferson scored 11 runs in its last two at bats to defeat the Ada baseball team 12-2 in a Northwest Conference game Thursday evening.
The Bulldogs fell to 6-5 and 1-2 in the NWC with the loss, while DJ improved to 6-5 and 2-0 in league play with the win.
Ada led 1-0 after one inning. DJ tied it with a run in the home second, yet the Bulldogs pushed across a run in the fourth to regain a 2-1 edge.
But then Jefferson blew the game open with eight runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Wildcats added three more runs in the sixth to end it with two outs by the 10-run rule.
Ada sophomore outfielder Zac Swaney helped lead the offense with two hits, two stolen bases and a run scored.
Senior catcher Austin Amburgey also collected two hits, stole a base and scored the other Bulldog run.
Junior Phillip Coulson allowed six earned runs on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings as the Ada starting hurler. He struck out six Wildcats and walked two.
Ada junior Landon Blankenship singled in a run and senior Jaylin Burkhart added a single.
The Bulldogs were out-hit, 16-6. DJ knocked out five doubles, a triple and 10 singles. Wildcat sophomore Josh Wiseman collected four hits, stole three bases, scored twice and drove in a run.
Sophomore DJ hurler Braxton Scalf pitched all six innings of the run-rule shortened game. He allowed six hits and two earned runs. Scalf struck out nine and walked none in an efficient 69-pitch outing.
Scalf also aided his own cause with two hits and two runs.
Ada left three runners on base while DJ stranded six. The Bulldogs and Wildcats each committed one error.
123 456 7 R H E
Ada 100 100 0 2 6 1
DJ 010 083 x 12 16 1
WP-Scalf LP-Coulson
2B-Gallmeier (DJ), Schroeder (DJ), Taviano (DJ), Simpson 2 (DJ)
3B-Anspach (DJ)
Ada hosts traditional arch-rival USV in a non-league twinbill Saturday, April 13.
