By Jordon Bruner, sports information assistant
April 9, 2006
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team (10-12, 5-4 HCAC) hosted a doubleheader with Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Hanover College on Saturday, April 8, 2006. The Beavers split the twinbill, dropping the first game 1-0 and winning the nightcap 5-4 in nine innings. Bluffton won 9-4 on April 9, 2006, to take the series two games to one.
GAME 1 - HANOVER 1, BLUFFTON 0
Freshman ace JUSTIN JONES (Washington Courthouse/Washington Senior) opened the game throwing 2.1 perfect innings before being forced to leave the game due to a hand injury with one out in the third inning. WILL GERBER (Kidron/Central Christian) came on in relief, going 3.2 innings.
Hanover broke the scoreless tie when it put a run on the board in the top of the sixth inning. WALDEN hit a one out triple and later scored on a HOPKINS sacrifice fly to centerfield.
RYAN BAIGHTEL (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) was hit by a pitch with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. CHRIS BAUMAN (Milford/Milford) then drew a walk to put runners on first and second. TONY GERIG (West Unity/Hilltop) hit a line drive to second base that was snagged on an amazing play by the shortstop, Hopkins, to end the game.
Gerber took the loss for the Beavers although he gave up only one run on two hits. He struck out three and walked one for the game.
GAME 2 - BLUFFTON 5, HANOVER 4
Bluffton took an early lead in the second game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second. CURTIS SCHROEDER (Shelby/Shelby) opened the inning with a single to right field. GREG SIGG (Maumee/Maumee) then followed with a walk, putting runners on first and second. Schroeder scored on an error by the third baseman following an attempted sacrifice bunt by KYLE WHITE (Berne Ind./South Adams). Gerig plated Sigg with a single to center field.
Hanover scored a run in the fourth to narrow the gap. SANZERE hit a single down the left field line to drive in Hopkins, making the score 2-1.
Bluffton extended its lead, putting up another run in the fifth. TONY MOORE (Elida/Elida) hit a one out double to left field and later scored on a TIM KAY (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) single to right field.
Hanover matched that run in the top of the sixth, as a GILLIN single down the left field line allowed GUMERSON to score. Then in the seventh inning, Hanover scored two runs to take a 4-3 advantage. JOHNSON came in to pinch hit for the Panthers and ripped a two-out single down the left field line to score both runners.
Bluffton answered Hanover in the bottom half of the inning by scoring a run and knotting the game at four. Moore once again reached base on a double to right center, his third hit and second double of the game. He crossed the plate on an RBI single to right field by RIORDAN MCCLAIN (Upper Sandusky/Upper Sandusky).
In the bottom of the ninth, TYLER WILLIAMS (Lima/Lima Senior) hit a single up the middle to put a man on with one out. Williams promptly stole second, putting him in scoring position with Moore at the plate. Moore hit a routine grounder to the first baseman which went through his legs allowing Williams to score the winning run from second base.
The Beavers ended the final game of the doubleheader with 10 hits. Leading the way for Bluffton was Moore who went 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, while Kay was 2-of-4 with an RBI.
MATT PERKINS (Convoy/Crestview) went seven innings for Bluffton, giving up four runs, two earned, on seven hits. RANDY MILLER (Williard/Williard) pitched the final two innings for the win, while surrendering only one hit. Miller, who also pitched a scoreless frame in game one, moves to 1-1 on the season.
GAME 3 - BLUFFTON 9, HANOVER 4
Bluffton never trailed in the final game of the series, as it went on to a 9-4 triumph over Hanover. The Beavers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. McClain drew a walk and then advanced to third on a double by Kay. He later scored on a passed ball with Schroeder at the plate.
Hanover answered Bluffton in the second as Sanzere opened the inning with a single to right field and advanced to second on an error. He moved to third on a single by Johnson. Sanzere crossed the plate when Cravens hit into a double play.
The Beavers put up another run in third to take a 2-1 lead. McClain reached on an infield single, and later moved up two bases on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Kay hit a grounder to the shortstop that allowed McClain to score.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Bluffton extended its lead to 3-1. Sigg led off the inning with a single to left center. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle White. Baightel drove in Sigg with a double down the left field line.
Bluffton exploded for six runs in the fifth inning to take a commanding 9-1 lead. McClain and Kay were both hit by pitches to put runners on first and second with one out. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch, and later scored on a single to left by Schroeder. Sigg then singled to right field to once again put runners on first and second with one out. Following a flyout to center by White, Baightel doubled to right center driving in both Schroeder and Sigg. Bauman came in to pinch hit and ripped a single to right which plated Baightel. Following a Williams' walk, Moore hit a single up the middle to score LOWELL WYSE (Camden, Mich./Hesston J.C.) who was pinch running for Bauman.
Hanover tried to come back in the seventh inning as it narrowed the gap to 9-4. Hopkins reached on an error that allowed BUNDY to score. Gillin and Sanzere followed with sacrifice flies to help cut the lead to five runs.
Baightel finished the game a perfect 3-for-3, with 3 RBI's. Moore and Schroeder each went 2-of-5 for the game, while Sigg went 2-for-4.
Tim Kay pitched a complete game to pick up the win for the Beavers. He gave up four runs, two earned, while striking out four batters. Kay improved to 2-3 on the season with the win.
Bluffton returns to action on Wednesday, April 12, 2006, when it will host Ohio Northern for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
-BEAVERS-