BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team made their final Heartland Conference series with long-time rival Defiance exciting all the way to the finish, winning 8-7 thanks to a walkoff single by Jack Towell (Batavia/West Clermont) in the bottom of the ninth! The Beavers improved to 9-12 overall and 4-3 in the Heartland Conference after wrapping up a three-game sweep of DC (2-15, 0-7 HCAC) on Saturday, March 30.

A Justin Maurer (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) solo homer in the home first made it 1-0 Beavers. Defiance responded with single runs in the second and third for a short-lived 2-1 lead. The good guys smacked it around with seven hits in the bottom of the third, taking a 6-2 lead when the dust settled. Six straight hits, including RBI two-baggers by Towell, Maurer and Ezra Deitering (Ottawa/Miller City) had the Yellow Jackets on their heels before Ayden Spriggs (North Lewisburg/Triad) capped the outburst with a run-scoring single that picked up Evan Houseman (Springfield/Kenton Ridge).

It was 6-4 Bluffton heading to the ninth and that's when the real fun began for the Memorial Field faithful. Defiance made a bid for its first conference victory in seven tries with three runs that gave the Jackets a 7-6 lead over the home team. Three straight singles from Seth Altman (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson), Tyler Fuller (Lewis Center/Orange) and Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start) loaded the sacks for Towell and he did the rest, ripping a walkoff base hit to left that had Fuller sliding in with the winning run!

Maurer went 3-of-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and a homer. Towell was 2-of-5 with four RBI. Fuller added three hits and two runs scored, while Spriggs chipped in two safeties.

Junior Wyatt Groves (Marengo/Highland) gave the Beavers five good innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and just one walk. He moved off the decision line when DC went ahead in the ninth, clearing the way for Jaden Jaques (New Palestine, IN) to secure his second victory of the season. Jaques also fanned five in four innings of relief. He allowed three runs on five hits.

Bluffton is back at Memorial Field for it seventh straight home game when Ohio Northern makes the short trip from Ada on Tuesday, April 2. The first pitch is slated for 4:15 p.m.

-BEAVERS-