March 7, 2014
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Bluffton University baseball team snapped a three-game skid with a 7-4 win over Alvernia on Friday, March 7, 2014. Senior Ben Roeschley (Graymont, Ill./Flanagan) was more than ready for the challenge as he matched up against pre-season All-American Mike Weinhold who was recently named the No. 5 Division III pitching prospect in the country after striking out 104 batters in 68 innings as a junior. The Beavers scored in five of the last six innings while improving to 3-4 on the season.
Senior David Ianiro (Highland Heights/Mayfield) put Bluffton up 1-0 in the fourth when he reached on an Alvernia error and came around to score when Tyler Spalding (Willis, Mich./Lincoln) reached on a fielder's choice. The home team on the scoreboard responded with a two-run triple in the fifth, giving the Crusaders a 2-1 lead.
Three walks and an error added up to a Bluffton run in the sixth as CHristian Vail (Lucas) knotted the game despite a hitless frame for the Beavers. Vail plated Michael Alexander (Monroe) with a squeeze bunt an inning later as Bluffton went up 3-2.
Mike Castro (Reynoldsburg) and Alexander laced run scoring singles in the eighth as Bluffton went up 5-2 when Tim Webb (Delaware/Worthington Christian) and Tyler Spalding crossed the dish.
Vail struck out to lead off the top of the ninth but found himself at first thanks to a passed ball that led to a pair of unearned runs. Two outs later, Spalding came up big with a two-run single to center for a 7-2 lead. Alvernia tried to rally in the home half, but Ianiro came on and fanned the last two batters, securing his second save of the season.
Spalding did the damage with three RBI, while Alexander and Webb chipped in with two hits apiece. Vail crossed the plate twice for the Beavers. Roeschley worked 8.1 innings of six-hit ball for his second win of the season. He allowed four runs and set down 10 Crusaders.
Bluffton wraps up its Florida trip on Saturday morning with a 10 a.m. doubleheader against Finlandia University.
-BEAVERS-