Sophomore Jason Burkett's first career home run leads Baseball in 11-1 victory over Defiance

By Caleb Scott

ADA -- Sophomore Jason Burkett hit his first career home run to lead the Ohio Northern baseball team to an 11-1 victory over Defiance Tuesday evening at Wander Field. 

The Polar Bears improve to 9-5 on the season, while the Yellow Jackets fall to 7-5.

Senior Andy Lubonovic led the way offensively as he compiled three hits on five at bats and added an RBI and three runs scored.

Sophomore T.J. Storer went 3-for-4 on the afternoon and added two runs.

Burkett entered the contest in the sixth inning and took advantage of his first at bat with a two run homer.

Ohio Northern had a hot start as they posted a 4-run first inning.

Lubonovic led off the game for ONU with a triple to right center field and put the Polar Bears in scoring position early.

After senior Nick Eltzroth was walked on the ensuing at bat, sophomore Dan McMullen would hit a sac fly to right field and plate Lubonovic to give ONU a 1-0 lead.

With Eltzroth on base, sophomore Jordan Bostater would hit a triple to right field and score Eltzroth to push the lead to 2-0.

After Storer singled and sophomore Dan Barna was walked, Ohio Northern would take advantage of a bases loaded jam as senior Cody Meyer would reach on an error and Bostater would score to give ONU a 3-0 lead.

From there senior Clay Small would hit a sac fly to center field and plate Storer to end the inning.

The Polar Bears would continue adding runs to the board in the fourth inning after back-to-back singles from Lubonovic and sophomore Brandon Kasberg put Northern in scoring position. 

Both Kasberg and Lubonovic were able to score from there on a wild pitch and passed ball to push the Polar Bear lead to 6-0.

Defiance was able to get one back on Northern in fifth inning to pull within 6-1.

Burkett would extend the Polar Bear lead with a two RBI home run over the center field fence to push the lead to 8-1 in sixth inning.

Northern would add three insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as Meyer, Small and Storer all scored.

Junior Devin Carr earned the victory for the Polar Bears and improved to 1-1 after seven innings of work and three strikeouts.

Northern will return to action Friday as it opens the Ohio Athletic Conference portion of the schedule with a double header at Otterbein at Fishbaugh Field.