March 18, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team took to the field to face off against the Goshen College Maple Leafs in a set of games on Sunday, March 18. After a 4-2 victory in the first game, Bluffton dropped a 9-5 decision in game two. The split puts Bluffton at 9-5, while Goshen moved to 9-12 on the season.
A solo home run in the second by Goshen put them up early before an RBI single by AUSTIN GOETZMAN (Mount Vernon) scored JEFF ARNETT (Tecumseh, Mich./Tecumseh) to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. Bluffton would score one more run in the inning after a fielding error by the Maple Leafs allowed Goetzman to cross the dish.
The visitors answered in the top of the fourth to even up the contest after a passed ball made it 2-2. Bluffton took the lead for good in the fifth after REID RUHL (Hamilton) singled home Jeff Arnett to make it a 3-2 ballgame. A Jeff Arnett double in the bottom of the sixth scored another run for Bluffton for a 4-2 lead. The Maple Leafs were unable to answer in the bottom of the inning as the Beavers sealed the 4-2 victory.
Jeff Arnett would lead the way for the home team, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Also contributing for Bluffton was Reid Ruhl who added a pair of hits while driving in two runs for the victors. Austin Goetzman tallied a hit, a run and an RBI.
Collecting the dub on the mound was GARRETT O'REILLY (Galena/Orange) who went 6.0 innings, allowing only one earned run off six hits. Netting 86 pitches, the freshman fanned two batters while walking one. Dante D'Andrea (Westerville/North) nailed down his first save of the season with a quick seventh
The visitors would get on the board in the top of the first inning in game two. After a Bluffton throwing error scored a runner and an RBI single pushed across another run, the visitors took a 2-0 lead. The Beavers would answer in the bottom of the inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by JACOB LATKOFSKY (Temperance, Mich./Ida) which plated Reid Ruhl as the Beavers cut the deficit to 2-1.
A run by the visitors in the second and a two-run answer by Bluffton in the bottom of the second had the score tied 3-3 heading into the third inning. Goshen would retake the lead in the third after an RBI triple put the Maple Leafs up 4-3. The home team was able to answer in the fourth when a RYAN GOLDEN (Findlay) single scored a pair of runs to put the Beavers in front, 5-4.
However, the lead was short lived as two runs by Goshen in the top of the fifth put them back in front at 6-5. Three more tallies by the visitors increased the lead to 9-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Bluffton was unable to muster up a comeback as they took a 9-5 defeat.
Leading the way for the Beavers was COLIN GREGORY (Fremont/Clyde) who pounded two hits to go along with a pair of RBIs. Ryan Golden would add a pair of hits and two RBIs for the home team while JAXON ROGAN (Marysville) scored twice to go along with his two hits in game two.
Taking the loss on the hill for Bluffton was JACK BONDY (Avon) who allowed three earned runs, six total, off five hits. Tallying 82 pitches on the day, the junior struck out four batters while walking two. CAM CLARK (Cairo/Bath) did not allow a hit in his 1.2 innings of work, fanning a batter and walking one. Sophomore MIKE AMAN (Dublin/Coffman) allowed two runs off four hits while recording a strikeout in his 1.1 innings of relief.
Bluffton will be back on the road on Tuesday, March 20, when the Beavers travel to Albion College with a first pitch set for 4:15 p.m.
-BEAVERS-