FINDLAY -- Defiance pitcher Robbie Zeigler was dominant on the mound, going the distance and allowing just two hits, while striking out six in an 11-1 five-inning romp of Findlay on Thursday.
The Bulldogs, now 2-0 on the young season, gave their junior righty all the run support he needed in the opening frame.
Jacob Moore walked to open the afternoon, Joe Keween then reached first on catcher's interference before senior standout Anthony Kidston belted a single to score Moore. Joe Gentile then singled to left field to plate Keween. Shea Murray drove in Defiance's third run of the first with a sacrifice fly.
Dom Gentile lifted a sac fly to right field to add to the DHS lead in the second inning, before the Bulldogs busted the game open in the third.
Defiance needed just two hits, a Murray bunt single and a Dom Gentile two-run double to right-center field to take a commanding lead in the third. Along with the two hits, the Bulldogs coaxed four walks to help with the five-run inning along with swiping two bags.
Findlay scored its only run of the day, an unearned run, in the fourth inning, but Defiance answered with two runs in the fifth to evoke the mercy rule.
Kidston drove in a pair in the fifth inning with a left-center field gap triple that scored Moore and Dom Gentile.
Kidston finished the day with a single, triple and three RBI to lead the way for the Bulldogs. Dom Gentile added a single, double and three RBI, while Moore chipped in with a pair of singles.
"Robbie had a good outing on the mound for us," lauded Defiance skipper Tom Held. "Getting the three runs in the first and getting off to a good start was nice. We really hit the ball well and Anthony Kidston and Dom Gentile both had big days at the plate with really big hits."
"I think everyone is ahead of schedule with the nice weather," added Held. "I'm really pleased with where we're at after two games into the season."
Defiance travels to Eastwood on Saturday to face Napoleon and Eastwood in a doubleheader.
Linescore
Defiance 315 02 - 11 8 2
Findlay 000 10 - 1 2 1
Records: Defiance 2-0, Findlay 2-1.
Winning pitcher: Robbie Ziegler (5 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks).
Losing pitcher: Bowden (3 innings, 8 runs, 5 hits, 1 strikeout, 4 walks). Other: Laslie.
Leading hitters: (Defiance, 8 hits) - Jacob Moore 2 singles; Anthony Kidston single, triple, 3 RBI; Dom Gentile single, double, 3 RBI. (Findlay, 2 hits) - Krupp 2 singles.