April 21, 2007
HANOVER, Ind. - The Bluffton University baseball team used an eight-run sixth inning in the first contest to win its second consecutive game and in the process take the series in Hanover, two games to one. The Beavers took game one by a final score of 10-5 and had their chances in the finale as the Panthers avoided the sweep with a 5-4 victory in the second game. With the split, Bluffton improved to 3-11 on the season with a 3-10 mark in Heartland Conference action.
GAME ONE - BLUFFTON 10, HANOVER 5
After a rocky start in which the Panthers took advantage of four walks and eight hits to plate five runs over the first four innings of the opener, MATT PERKINS (Convoy/Crestview) settled in and held Hanover scoreless during the final three frames while his teammates took over and helped him to his first win of the year.
Consecutive doubles by TIM KAY (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) and CURTIS SCHROEDER(Shelby/Shelby) in inning one gave the Beavers their lone score until the Bluffton bats broke out of their funk in the top of the sixth inning. Bluffton sent 14 men to the dish in a sixth inning that saw eight Beavers cross the plate. JIMMY MCMONAGLE (Ida, Mich./Ida) led off the inning with a single and he moved to second when CODY MCPHERSON (Northwood/Lake) drew a free pass. With one out, a walk to CHRIS WURM (Bucyrus/Bucyrus) loaded the bases. McMonagle crossed the plate on a wild pitch. One out later, the Bluffton bats erupted. TONY MOORE (Elida/Elida) singled home McPherson and a COREY CONN (London/London) double plated Wurm and Moore. Kay smoked an RBI triple which forced Hanover to go to its bullpen. Back-to-back walks to Schroeder and McMonagle then loaded the bases for McPherson who promptly picked up Kay and Schroeder with his two-bagger. A Wurm single plated McMonagle before RYAN BAIGHTEL (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) flied out, ending the two-out rally which produced seven of the eight runs in the sixth.
Moore's leadoff walk to open the seventh paid dividends for the Beavers when he stole second and scored on Tim Kay's RBI single which made the score 10-5 in favor of the visitors.
Kay was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate in the first game with two runs scored and two RBI. He was a home run short of the cycle and stole a pair of bases. Conn, Kay and McPherson all tallied two RBI in the first game while Moore, Kay and McMonagle scored two runs each.
Perkins, who pitched his third straight complete game, gave up five runs, four earned, on 11 hits with five strikeouts in seven innings of work for his first win.
GAME TWO - HANOVER 5, BLUFFTON 4
The Beavers' early 1-0 lead was erased in the bottom of the third when Hanover took advantage of three Bluffton errors to score three runs, two of which were unearned.
Bluffton left three runners stranded in the fourth, but came back to tie the game with two scores in the top of the fifth. Conn doubled to open the inning and he moved to third on Kay's base hit. A walk to McMonagle loaded the bases for McPherson who singled home Conn. GREG SIGG (Maumee/Maumee) picked up Kay with his sacrifice fly to center field, making the score 3-3.
Although BARNETT was out trying to stretch a double into a three-bagger to open the bottom of the fifth, GUMERSON doubled home PUNT who had singled with one out, putting Hanover back on top by a run.
A leadoff walk to MILLER in the sixth allowed the Panthers to score what turned out to be the game-winner when he scored on CRAVEN'S two-out double.
Kay scored on McPherson's sacrifice fly to left in the top of the seventh, but the Beavers could not take advantage of his leadoff single in the ninth as Hanover held on for a 5-4 victory over Bluffton in the nightcap.
Bluffton's one man demolition crew, Tim Kay, finished the afternoon a ridiculous 9-for-9 with four runs scored, three RBI, two doubles, a triple, three stolen bases, not to mention an intentional walk that he drew in the second game. This after picking up the complete game win against the Panthers on Friday night.
McPherson and Conn collected two hits apiece in the second contest. Conn and Kay both scored twice while McPherson picked up a pair of RBI in the loss.
JAMES HAUSMAN (Milford/Milford) took the loss, giving up five runs, three earned, on 10 hits in six innings on the mound. TYLER HILL (London/London) kept Bluffton in the game with two strong innings of relief.
The Beavers will travel north from Hanover to Anderson University where they will take on the Ravens at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, 2007.
-BEAVERS-