Toledo Central Catholic scored six runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning then held on to beat Defiance 9-8 on Thursday at DHS, handing the top-ranked team in the state in Division II (Prep Baseball Report, OHSBCA) its first loss of the season.

The Bulldogs committed four errors, including one with two outs in the seventh and the game tied at 4-4, that proved costly in dropping to 16-1 on the season.

"It wasn't just the seventh inning, we made a number of baserunning mistakes that took us out of big innings, and that's been our Achillies' Heel most of the season" stated Defiance mentor Tom Held. "But, we didn't make the plays we needed to make in the seventh inning either that would have gotten us out of that inning."

Defiance, which broke a 3-3 deadlock with a run in the bottom of the sixth on a bases-loaded walk to Dom Gentile, did not lie down after the Fighting Irish pushed across six in the seventh for a 9-4 lead.

Walks and a big error keyed a DHS rally and Mazen Kanouh's RBI single to right field pulled the Bulldogs within 9-7 with just one out. Gentile followed with a single to make the score 9-8, but a base running miscue left two runners on third with the second out eventually recorded.

Now down one with two outs and runners on first and third, Defiance's leading hitter Rob Zeigler came to the plate. Zeigler, who flew out to the fence with the bases juiced in the sixth, ripped a shot to center but a diving catch gave Toledo Central Catholic (6-8) the victory.

"I was proud of our guys for the way they battled after we gave up those six runs in the seventh," Held said. "We were in position to win the game, but again it's only fitting that a baserunning mistake came back to bite us. The ball Robbie hit was a laser, the center fielder made a great play.

"I was very pleased with Austin Hancock on the mound. During one stretch he set down 14 of 15 before the seventh inning," added Held. "I like the way he competed against a very good Toledo Central Catholic club. Now we get to see how the kids react after a loss when we take on Van Wert (tonight)."

Zeigler hit a single and double for the Bulldogs while Gentile and Joe Keween each had a pair of singles.

Defiance puts its unbeaten Western Buckeye League record on the line today at Van Wert before traveling to Elmwood on Saturday.

Toledo CC 120 000 6 - 9 5 2

Defiance 300 001 4 - 8 10 4

Records: Toledo Central Catholic 6-8, Defiance 16-1.

Winning pitcher: Vetter (1 2/3 innings, 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 strikeouts, 4 walks). Others: Getaldor, Weiland.

Losing pitcher: Austin Hancock (6 2/3 innings, 9 runs, 4 hits, 6 strikeouts, 4 walks). Other: Mazen Kanouh.

Leading hitters: (Toledo Central Catholic, 5 hits) - Solomon 2 singles; Davis double. (Defiance, 10 hits) - Dom Gentile 2 singles; Robert Zeigler single, double; Joe Keween 2 singles.