By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
March 28, 2009
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team hosted HCAC foe Mt. St. Joseph on Saturday, March 28, and the Lions continued their solid play as they completed the sweep with another victory against the Beavers, 4-2. Bluffton fell to 8-11 this season and 3-4 in the Heartland Conference, while the Lions improved to 4-3 in the conference and 11-8 overall.
The Lions tallied two runs before the Beavers' offense came up with their only scores of the contest in the bottom of the fourth. Corey Conn (London) opened with a single to left field. Cody McPherson (Northwood/Millbury Lake) followed with a rip to left center and he took second thanks to a misplay while Conn advanced to third. A sacrifice fly from Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) resulted in Conn racing home. After moving up 90 feet on a groundout, McPherson scored when senior outfielder Chris Bauman (Milford) slammed the ball into right field.
However, four innings later the Lions rallied for two unearned runs to break the 2-2 tie and The Mount held Bluffton scoreless in the eighth and ninth to finish the sweep at Memorial Field.
Matt Perkins (Convoy/Crestview) pitched 7.1 superb innings, but was saddled with his first loss of the season (2-1) as he held the Lions to three runs, two earned, on six hits. Perkins limited MSJ to two walks and he fanned eight batters. Adrian Fritch (Edon) gave up three hits, three walks, and one run in 1.2 innings of relief.
Corey Conn went 2-of-4 and scored once for the Beavers. Tyler Stephenson and Chris Bauman added one RBI apiece.
The Bluffton University baseball team returns to action on Tuesday, March 31, when the Beavers host conference rival Manchester College. The contest is slated for 4 p.m. at Memorial Field.