By Jordon Bruner, sports information assistant
Kate Barringer, sports information assistant
April 29, 2006
The Bluffton University baseball team fell to 15-20, 8-10 HCAC with a pair of losses to the Mount St. Joseph Lions on April 29, 2006. The Beavers dropped the first game by a score of 4-2 and they fell to the Lions 6-4 in the rubber game of the series.
GAME 1 - BLUFFTON 13, MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 12
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton scored the last 11 runs in the final three innings to overcome a 12-2 deficit and defeat Mount St. Joseph (20-13, 6-10 HCAC). The win improves the Beavers' record to 15-18 overall and 8-8 in Heartland Conference action.
The Beavers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. TONY MOORE (Elida/Elida) led off the inning with an infield single and then moved to second on a throwing error. He scored one out later on a sacrifice fly by TIM KAY (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity).
Mount St. Joseph responded with four runs in the second inning and three in third inning to jump out to a 7-1 lead. The Lions then extended their lead in fifth when they scored two more runs to give them a 9-1 advantage.
Bluffton put one run across in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 9-2. Moore once again led off with a hit, as his double down the left field line put a runner in scoring position. Kay picked up his second RBI of the day when he drove in Moore on a groundout to the second baseman.
The Lions pushed three more runners across in the sixth as Mount St. Joseph took its biggest lead of the day, 12-2.
Bluffton's bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth as the Beavers closed the gap with five runs in the inning. GREG SIGG (Maumee/Maumee) led off the inning with a solo shot to left field. LOWELL WYSE (Camden, Mich./Hesston JC) drew a walk to score CHRIS BAUMAN(Milford/Milford), while Moore and Kay each had RBI singles. The Beavers scored four more runs in the seventh to make it a 12-11 game. Sigg once again led off the inning with a hit and then scored on a single by COREY CONN (London/London). One out later, Moore drove a double to right center to score two runners, while RIORDAN MCCLAIN (Upper Sandusky/Upper Sandusky) followed that with a single to right which plated Moore.
In the bottom of the eighth, Bluffton grabbed its first lead since the opening inning of the game. For the third straight inning, Sigg reached base to start off the frame when he drew a walk. TYLER WILLIAMS (Lima/Lima Senior) came in to pinch run and then scored the tying run on a double to right center by RYAN BAIGHTEL (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta). Wyse came up with a clutch two-out single to right field to drive in Baightel and give the Beavers the lead for good.
TYLER SPRUNGER (Berne, Ind./South Adams) pitched the final four innings to pick up the win for the Beavers. He improves to 2-0 on the season after shutting out the Lions during the last three innings of the game.
Moore finished the game 4-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBI's, while Baightel was 3-of-5 with one run batted in. Wyse ended the day 1-of-2 as he drew two walks and drove in two runs.
GAME 2 - MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 4, BLUFFTON 2
Bluffton was unable to pull out the win in the last inning as the Beavers fell 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday, April 29. The loss drops the Beavers to 15-19 overall and 8-9 in the HCAC, with the Lions improving to 21-13 overall and 7-10 in the HCAC.
Bluffton picked up its first hit in the second inning when CURTIS SCHROEDER(Shelby/Shelby) singled down the left field line. Sigg reached first on a fielder's choice to third base but both were stranded and unable to score. Mount St. Joseph followed with two hits and two runs in the top of the third inning.
The Beavers rallied back with LOWELL WYSE (Camden, Mich./Hesston JC) starting the bottom of the third by reaching first on a bunt. TONY MOORE (Elida/Elida) followed Wyse's lead by singling to left field and McClain reached first on a bunt which loaded the bases. Schroeder picked up Wyse when he lined out to center field making the score 2-1 in favor of the Mount.
MSJ added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning scoring two runs which Bluffton was unable able to make up.
The Beavers had one last chance in their final at bat when McClain started the inning by singling to right field. Sigg became the tying run when he singled to left field. TONY GERIG (West Unity/Hilltop) had a chance to win the game, but the Lion's left fielder made an outstanding catch on his rocket shot to close the game with the final score of 4-2.
Kay (4-4) went the distance but was unable to pull out the win giving up six hits, four runs and walking four batters. McClain went 2-of-4 and Sigg had two hits in three at bats. Moore continued his 19-game hitting streak with his single to left field in the third inning.
GAME 3 - MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 6, BLUFFTON 4
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton took on the Mount St. Joseph Lions for their third and final game. The Beavers scored first but were not able to overcome a Lion eruption in the fourth inning when five runs were scored. The Beavers suffered their second straight loss on Saturday afternoon by a score of 6-4. The loss drops the Beavers to 15-20 overall and 8-10 in the HCAC while the Lions improved to 22-13 overall and 8-10 in the HCAC.
Kay got Bluffton started as he smacked a double down the left field line. He scored when Schroeder reached base on a throwing error. Sigg ripped a single to center field but was unable to score. The Beavers held the 1-0 lead for three innings until the fourth when the bats of MSJ got hot and five runners crossed the plate thanks to four timely hits.
The Beavers tried to rally in the fifth when they scored three runs. Kay singled to left field and Schroeder's double to left center scored Kay. Sigg followed suit by hitting a double down the left field line which scored Schroeder. McMonagle added to the rally with a single to right field which sent Sigg home. This big inning brought the score to 5-4, but the Beavers where not able to push any more runs across the plate. However, MSJ added one more run in the sixth inning which gave the Lions a 6-4 victory.
MATT PERKINS (1-5) took the loss as he gave up five runs on six hits. Kay finished the game with two hits in four at-bats and scored two runs. Sigg also went 2-for-4 and scored one run.
The Beavers return to action on Friday, May 5, when they welcome Defiance College for the first game of the Heartland Conference series with the Yellow Jackets. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. on Friday and the regular season concludes with a doubleheader at Defiance on Saturday.
-BEAVERS-