By Bill Hanefeld Jr., sports information director
April 5, 2006
CEDARVILLE, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team broke a four game slide with its 12-10 victory over Cedarville College (10-15) on Wednesday, April 5, 2006. The Beavers built a 12-0 lead through the first six innings and held on to improve their record to 8-11 overall.
BLUFFTON 12, CEDARVILLE 10
Bluffton took the early 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a leadoff double down the right field line by senior RIORDAN MCCLAIN (Upper Sandusky/Upper Sandusky). He moved to third on a RYAN BAIGHTEL (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate when TIM KAY (Alpharetta Ga./Blessed Trinity) grounded out to third.
Freshman TYLER WILLIAMS (Lima/Lima Senior), starting in left field, drew a free pass to open the third inning. He promptly stole second and third before another walk to Baightel and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. GREG SIGG (Maumee/Maumee) picked up three RBI's with his bases loaded double to left field giving the Beavers a 4-0 lead in the third.
The Beavers tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the fifth thanks to a Tim Kay double and a KYLE WHITE (Berne, Ind./South Adams) double to left center.
The Bluffton bats exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth as the Beavers sent 11 men to the plate in the inning.
Cedarville came to life in the bottom of the seventh inning. Consecutive singles by TOTTEN and DILERNIA and a walk to WORKMAN loaded the bases with no outs. A WILSON sacrifice fly was the first out of the inning. With the bases loaded again, NOBLE doubled down the left field line plating two runs. A HOUCHIN double to right center sent two more runs across the plate as Cedarville trimmed the deficit to 12-5.
Workman, who was hit by a pitch to open the eighth inning, stole second and came around to score on a KOOGLER single to right field.
With their backs against the wall in the bottom of the ninth, Cedarville pushed across four more runs to give the Beavers a scare, but senior AARON KRIEGER (Ida, Mich./Ida) came on with one down in the ninth and picked up the final two outs, including a game-ending strikeout, and the save as Bluffton held on for the 12-10 victory.
McClain picked up his second win as he went seven innings giving up five runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.
First baseman Greg Sigg was 2-of-4 at the plate with four RBI's and one run scored. Kyle White also finished with two hits for the Beavers. ANTHONY BRYANT (Reynoldsburg/Reynoldsburg) crossed the plate three times while McClain and Baightel both scored two runs.
The Beavers return to action on Friday, April 7, when they host conference rival Hanover College at 4 p.m. The Panthers will also be in town on Saturday, April 8, for a doubleheader that is slated to get underway at 12 noon.
-BEAVERS-