By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
April 9, 2009
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team fell to Otterbein College on Thursday, April 9th, as the Cardinals' bats were hot in a 16-11 romp over the Beavers. Bluffton fell to 8-17 this season following its ninth straight setback, while the Cardinals improved to 11-8 overall.
The Beavers responded to the two-run Cardinal first with a walk for Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer). After advancing to second on a balk, the freshman outfielder raced to the plate on a single to center field by Cody McPherson (Northwood/Millbury Lake). A wild pitch moved McPherson to second for Curtis Schroeder (Shelby) who singled him home. Two consecutive hit batters by Otterbein helped the Beavers push across their third run in the first inning.
Otterbein did most of its damage in the second inning by scoring eight runs on eight hits and one Bluffton error. The bottom of the second and third saw Bluffton tally one run in each inning, but it wasn't until the bottom of the fourth that the Beavers put a dent in the deficit with three runs. Freshman catcher Jaryd Kovacs (Gahanna/Westerville North) doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on McPherson's rip to right field. A single from Brett Howard (Toledo/St. Francis DeSales) sent Kovacs home before a base knock by Schroeder gave McPherson the green light for the plate. Two consecutive walks resulted in the third Bluffton run in the inning.
Trailing 16-8, the Beaver offense rallied in the bottom of the eighth as Chris Bauman (Milford) singled to left center. Schroeder walked, moving Bauman to second. Allen Slabaugh (Dalton) smashed a triple to right center that drove in both runners. A groundout gave Slabaugh the chance to cross the plate for the third and final run in the inning as the Cardinals settled down to complete the 16-11 victory.
Otterbein took advantage of Bluffton's starter as the Cardinals smoked nine hits and 10 runs off junior Cody McPherson. Jesse Brown (Brookeville) worked three shutout innings of relief to close the game, limiting the Cardinals to one measly hit.
Both Broyles and Schroeder went 3-for-4 at the plate while McPherson and Stephens each had two hits. Mike Ramthun drove in three runs for the Beavers. Broyles, McPherson and Schroeder all scored two times while McPherson, Schroeder and Slabaugh all tallied two RBI.
The Bluffton University baseball team returns to action on Good Friday, April 10, when the Beavers host St. Francis of Ft. Wayne, Ind. The contest is slated for noon at Memorial Field.
-BEAVERS-