BLUFFTON, Ohio - The home opener was not kind to the Bluffton University baseball team as gale force winds and a hot-hitting Otterbein University club added up to 29 runs in an eight-inning victory that called due to durkness after three and a half hours.
Bluffton's offense was ready for battle, but Otterbein University brought out the heavy artillary, pasting 11 runs on the scoreboard before the Beavers took their first turn at the dish. The home team scored in five of the first six frames, however, innings of 11-3-5-7-3 gave the Cardinals plenty of breathing room in the 29-11 victory.
Jack Towell (Batavia/West Celrmont) tried to singlehandedly keep the Beavers within striking distance, driving in a whopping six runs through the first four frames. He doubled home Ezra Deitering (Ottawa/Miller City) and Justin Maurer (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) in the first, doubled in Maurer in the third and then crushed a three-run shot in the fourth, making it 14-7.
Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start) and Deitering plated runs in the fifth and then Kenny Schneider (Sunbury/Big Walnut) rapped a two-run two-bagger that scored Brandon North (Hilliard/Bradley) and Tyler Fuller (Lewis Center/Orange) for runs 10 and 11, but Otterbein was just too much on a windy Tuesday afternoon.
Towell went 3-of-6 with six RBI and Deitering was 3-of-5 with two runs scored. Maurer crossed the dish three times despite just one at bat in four trips to the plate.
Jacob Boelkens (Millbury/Lake) dropped his first decision of the year after allowing eight runs on four hits with four walks in a third of an inning. Senior Garrett Rice (Coshocton) tossed a scoreless eighth in his second appearance of the year.
Bluffton will be back at Memorial Field for the Heartland Conference opener on Saturday, March 23, when Earlham College is here for a doubleheader. Game one is slated for 12 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
