BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University had an outstanding Senior Day on Sunday, April 28, 2024. The Beavers honored seven members of their team prior to the game and then rallied for a 9-8 victory over HCAC-heavyweight Anderson University just minutes after the softball team downed the Ravens in game one of their doubleheader! Bluffton improved to 10-26 overall and 5-13 in the Heartland Conference, snapping a string of 14 straight losses. Softball wrapped up a sweep, breaking a string of 16 straight setbacks which dated back to March 28.
Jack Towell's (Batavia/West Clermont) run-scoring single to right made him the all-time RBI leader (145) in the second inning! Freshman Matthew Mitchell (Amelia/McNicholas) followed with a sacrifice fly that put Bluffton up 2-1. An Ezra Deitering (Ottawa/Miller City) solo shot in inning later made it 3-2 Beavers.
Anderson put up a solo tally in the fourth and two more an inning later, but four runs in the home half made it 7-5 Bluffton heading to the sixth. Brody Hammersley (Coshocton) picked up Deitering with a single to right and Mitchell delivered with a three-run bomb that put the home team up by two runs.
The Ravens went up 8-7 with three tallies in the seventh courtesy of two walks, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly. But Bluffton had the magic elixir on Sunday in designated hitter Brody Hammersley. His walkoff base hit to center plated Deitering and Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start) for a stunning 9-8 victory over the visiting Ravens!
Baumgartner's walk in the ninth made him the all-time career leader with 80 free passes on the same day the Towell became the all-time leader with 145 career ribbies! Hammersley was nearly unstoppable, going 4-of-5 with three RBI and two runs scored! Mitchell went 2-of-3 with four RBI and a run scored. Deitering scored three times, while Bummy was 2-of-4 with two runs scored.
Wyatt Groves (Marengo/Highland) went 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with one strikeout and no free passes but did not factor in the decision. Senior Sean Brock (Wauseon) worked a perfect ninth and collected his first collegiate win when Hammersley delivered in the home half!
Bluffton will spend the week in finals before a trip to Franklin College on Friday, May 3. Game one of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. in Franklin, Ind.
-BEAVERS-
