April 29, 2007
DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team could not take advantage of MATT PERKINS (Convoy/Crestview) dominating pitching performance on the mound as Defiance edged the Beavers, 3-2, on a sunny and mild Sunday, April 29, 2007. With the loss, Bluffton fell to 4-16 overall, including a 3-12 mark in Heartland Conference action. The Yellow Jackets improved to 11-22 and 6-12 in the HCAC.
In the home half of the second, back-to-back singles to left field by JACKSON and KOSIERgave Defiance a pair of runners with no outs. A passed ball moved both players into scoring position. Following a Perkins strikeout, CHIDESTER executed a perfect squeeze bunt down the first base line, plating Jackson for the early 1-0 lead over the Beavers.
Jackson smoked a double to left center in his next trip to the plate, knocking home HAWKINSwho led off the fourth with a base hit.
The Yellow Jackets tacked on what wound up as the game-winning run in the fifth when JESSEreached on a bunt for a hit with one out. He stole second and moved to third when Bluffton was forced to throw to first following KOESTERS' strikeout. Harris singled home Jesse for a 3-0 Yellow Jacket lead.
Bluffton, which struggled to get baserunners on all afternoon, finally broke through in the top of the seventh. TIM KAY (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) reached on an error to open the inning. An infield single by CURTIS SCHROEDER (Shelby/Shelby) moved him to second with no outs. CODY MCPHERSON (Northwood/Lake) put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. A COREY CONN (London/London) single picked up Kay and when the relay missed the mark on STEVE ROBERTS' (West Salem/Mapleton) fielder's choice, Schroeder crossed the plate.
The Beavers loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, but PORTALES ended the game with a strikeout and infield popup as Defiance held on for the slim 3-2 victory.
Bluffton finished with only five hits against Portales who improved to 2-2 with his complete game victory
Perkins limited Defiance to three runs on seven hits in eight innings of work on the hill. He fell to 1-3 on the season despite pitching his fourth consecutive complete game for the Beavers.
Defiance makes the short trip to Bluffton for a re-match with the Beavers on Tuesday, May 1, 2007. The contest is slated to start at 4:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-