March 6, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Bluffton University baseball squad took to the field to face off against the Pitt-Bradford Panthers in their only contest of the day. The Beavers (4-2) fell behind and were not able to overcome an early 17-3 deficit as Bradford secured a 21-14 victory.

Pitt-Bradford was firing on all cylinders, scoring seven times before Bluffton got on the board with a passed ball that plated RYAN GOLDEN (Findlay). Trailing 7-1 headed into the second, Bluffton would score a run courtesy of a REID RUHL (Hamilton) double before an ALEX LEMANSKI (Miamisburg) RBI made the score 7-3.

After 10 unanswered runs by the Panthers, Bluffton fought back in the sixth inning thanks to PARKER REYNOLDS (Avon) and LENNY WINIARSKI (Cincinnati/LaSalle) who helped trim the deficit to 17-9. Pitt-Bradford answered with four runs in the eighth inning to go ahead 21-9.

The Beavers would not go away as they put up three in the eighth after a JAXON ROGAN (Marysville) double that scored one and a two-run two-bagger by Lemanski. Bluffton managed to get two runs in the ninth following a Parker Reynolds single but it was too little, too late as the Beavers took a 21-14 loss.

Bluffton was by Reid Ruhl who notched three hits, three RBI and accounted for three runs, while Jaxon Rogan went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs. Jacob Latkofsky had a watchful eye at the plate, recording three walks on the day.

HUNTER MILLS (Etna/Watkins Memorial) struggled on the mound as the freshman allowed seven runs off four hits while walking two batters. Outfielder JEFF ARNETT (Tecumseh, Mich./Tecumseh) would get a chance hurl the rock as the senior went 3.0 innings, striking out one and allowing just two runs off six hits. SAM KRIZEK (Columbia Station/Columbia) recorded a team-high three strikeouts for the Beavers. Sophomore Bryce Fink (Medina) worked a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for the Beavers.

Bluffton will be in action on March 7 at 9 a.m. when they face off against Rivier with hopes of ending its 2-game skid. You can keep up to date on all of the Beaver games down in Florida on Twitter @Bluffton_sports and on www.bluffton.edu/athletics.

-BEAVERS-