April 28, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team hosted Rose-Hulman for a pair of Heartland Conference games on a frigid Saturday, April 28. Rose scored three times in the eighth inning of game one for a 7-4 victory before capping the sweep with a 7-1 win. The Beavers improved to 15-21 overall and 8-7 in the HCAC, while Bluffton fell to 18-16 and 7-9 in the conference.
Rose held a 4-0 lead in game one until the Beavers erupted for four runs on five hits in the bottom of the 7th. Adam Duncan (Northwood/Lake) singled home Reid Maus (Hamilton/Badin) to start the scoring binge. Chase Lawniczak (Toledo/Whitmer) followed with an RBI double before Colin Gregory's (Fremont/Clyde) two-run base knock made the score 4-4.
Two RHIT hits and four Bluffton errors in the top of the eighth added up to three runs and the visitors made them stand up as Rose finished off game one with a 7-4 victory.
Gregory was able to drive in a team-high two RBIs off one hit. Collecting a hit, a run and an RBI each were Lawniczak and Duncan.
Taking the loss on the mound was DANTE D'ANDREA (Westerville/North) who gave up three runs, but none earned, on just two hits in 2.1 innings of work. The junior hurler would fan two batters with his 63 pitches. COLBY CLIFTON (Ohio City/Crestview) struck out four batters in 5.0 innings of work.
After a short break, the teams were back at it and Rose-Hulman would strike quick, scoring two runs in the top of the first. The Beavers got a run on the board in the bottom of the third after a wild pitch scored Adam Duncan from third. The visitors were able to take advantage of their solid pitching as they scored five unanswered to take a 7-1 lead on Bluffton.
Bluffton struggled with just six hits, compared to Rose-Hulman's 10. Luke Buehler was dominant in the outing as he struck out 16 Beavers in his eight-innings of work. Getting a hit and a walk were PARKER REYNOLDS (Avon) and JACOB LATKOFSKY (Temperance, Mich./Ida). Also collecting hits were Colin Gregory and Chase Lawniczak. Adam Duncan scored the only run for the Beavers.
Dropping to 0-3 on the season was TOMMY SIEMER (Liberty Township/Lakota East) who allowed three earned runs off eight hits. Siemer fanned one batter with his 79 pitches. GARRETT O'REILLY (Galena/Orange) gave up just two hits while recording two strikeouts in the outing.
Bluffton will look to avenge these setbacks on Friday, May 4, when the Beavers host Olivet at 4 p.m. before they close out their regular season HCAC games on Saturday, May 5 against Transylvania University, starting at 12 p.m. Come out and support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
