TOLEDO -- Defiance improved to 25-1 on the baseball season after rolling to a 9-1 victory over Toledo Start at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, home of the Toledo Mud Hens.
Senior lefty Taylor Cooper earned his first varsity win in his first varsity start for Defiance, striking out six over five innings of work. The Bulldogs, the No. 1 team in the state in Division II, scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to give Cooper all the cushion he needed.
"Taylor threw the ball very well today," stated Defiance mentor Tom Held. "Taylor has really worked really hard on his mechanics and his hard work paid off today. He really took advantage of his opportunity today."
Anthony Kidston got the ball rolling for the Bulldogs in the first, leading off with a single before swiping both second and third base. A walk to Joe Gentile put runners on the corners for Rob Zeigler, who single to left to score Kidston. A bunt single by Shea Murray loaded the bases for DHS.
A walk to Dom Romero plated Joe Gentile for the second run, before a Joe Keween single to right scored Romero and Murray with the third and fourth runs of the frame.
"We've been seeing the ball well the last couple of weeks, and today was no exception," Held said. "We were able to score those four early runs and today we hit the ball pretty well up and down the lineup.
"Today was just a great opportunity to play at one of the nicest fields our kids will ever have the opportunity to play at," added Held. "We had a nice crowd, it was great to see so many people make the trip."
Zeigler finished with two singles a double and three RBI to pace Defiance, while Keween also knocked in three with a pair of singles. Kidston and Austin Hancock also finished with two singles.
Sutter and Pier had doubles for the Spartans, who fell to 12-10 on the year.
Defiance will look to extend its 58-game WBL win streak today against Wapakoneta at home at 5 p.m., in the continuation of a game that was suspended on April 20. The game will resume in the second inning with the score tied, 2-2.
Linescore
Start 000 010 0 - 1 5 1
Defiance 421 020 x - 9 11 1
Records: Defiance 25-1, Start 12-10.
Winning pitcher: Taylor Cooper (5 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 6 strikeouts, 3 walks). Others: Tyler Batt, Weston Rivers.
Losing pitcher: Vargas (2 innings, 6 runs, 6 hits, 2 strikeouts, 3 walks). Others: Baker, Russell, Komick.
Leading hitters: (Start, 5 hits) - Sutter double; Pier double. (Defiance, 11 hits) - Rob Zeigler 2 singles, double, 3 RBI; Anthony Kidston 2 singles; Joe Keween 2 singles, 3 RBI; Austin Hancock 2 singles.