By Bill Hanefeld Jr., sports information director
March 11, 2006
FORT MYERS, Fl. - The Bluffton University baseball team improved to 4-5 with a 4-2 victory over Muskingum College in the final game for the Beavers at the Gene Cusic Classic on Saturday, March 11, 2006. Freshman JUSTIN JONES (Washington Court House/Washington Senior) registered his second win in Florida with another dominating performance on the mound. He gave up only four hits and two runs in 7.1 innings while fanning eight Fighting Muskies in the victory.
With one out in the first inning, RIORDAN MCCLAIN (Upper Sandusky/Upper Sandusky) drilled a triple to left center. Designated hitter GREG SIGG (Maumee/Maumee) brought him in with an infield single. The Beavers then loaded the bases before NEUHART got the Muskies out of the jam.
Bluffton rallied for two more runs in the second, again with one out. The Beavers strung together four consecutive singles, including both McClain and Sigg's second hits of the day, to take a 3-0 lead after two innings.
A walk, an error and a passed ball allowed Muskingum to put a run on the scoreboard in the fourth inning.
Another leadoff walk, this time to S. GALLOWAY, led to a Muskingum run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Galloway stole second and moved to third on an infield groundout. He crossed the plate when A. HESLER grounded out to third base.
The Beavers tacked on an insurance run in the top of the eighth to take a 4-2 lead. TYLER WILLIAMS (Lima/Lima Senior) led off the frame with a base on balls. He promptly stole second and advanced to third when TONY MOORE (Elida/Elida) reached on a bunt single to third base. McClain picked up his second RBI of the day when he singled to right field.
WILL GERBER (Kidron/Central Christian) held the Muskies scoreless over the final 1.2 innings to help the Beavers pick up a 4-2 victory over Muskingum.
McClain, who feasted on the pitching at the Gene Cusic Classic, went 3-of 4 at the plate and knocked in two runs while scoring once. Sigg and LOWELL WYSE (Camden, Mich./Hesston J.C.) both collected a pair of hits in the victory with Sigg picking up two RBI's.
Senior Riordan McClain leads the Beavers with a .563 batting average (18-of-32), 12 runs scored and nine RBI's. Sophomore TIM KAY (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) is hitting .556 at the plate (10-of-18) and has tallied eight RBI's. Senior Lowell Wyse has a .476 batting average (10-of-21) through the first nine games.
The Beavers will now return home from the Gene Cusic Classic to host Capital on Tuesday, March 14
at 3 p.m.
-BEAVERS-