March 9, 2008
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Bluffton University baseball team suffered its second loss to Thiel College, 19-9, on Saturday, March 8, 2008. The Beavers fell to 5-5 on the season while the Tomcats improved to 7-3 with the convincing victory in Bluffton's final game of the Gene Cusic Classic.
Thiel used four singles in the top of the first to take an early 2-0 lead over the Beavers.
After Bluffton held the Tomcats scoreless in the second frame, the only inning through the first eight that Thiel failed to plate a runner, Bluffton knotted the game with a pair of scores. CODY MCPHERSON (Millbury/Lake) led off with a double down the left field line. A double by COREY CONN (London/London) made the score 2-1 before CURTIS SCHROEDER (Shelby/Shelby) singled in Conn to tie the game at two.
The Tomcats wasted no time reclaiming their lead, pasting five runs on the Beavers in the top of the third inning. Thiel ripped six hits, including a pair of two-baggers to build a 7-2 lead while chasing starter DUSTIN ZIZELMAN (Rockford/Parkway) from the contest with one out. Thiel plated two more runs in the fourth to up its advantage to seven runs.
Bluffton clawed back with three runs in the home half of the fourth thanks to four hits. With one out, RYAN BAIGHTEL (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) singled to center. TONY MOORE(Elida/Elida) followed with a base hit before A.J. RAMTHUN'S (Springfield/Southeastern) RBI-single pushed Baightel across the plate. Moore scored on a fielder's choice and TIM KAY(Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) came around on MIKE RAMTHUN'S(Springfield/Southeastern) double to left field.
In the top of the fifth frame, Thiel put the game out of reach with five runs on five hits before the Bluffton defense could get off of the field, down 14-5. The Tomcats added five more runs over the next three innings.
The Beavers made their last stand in the bottom of the seventh, rallying for four runs on four hits. McPherson again started the comeback with a single down the left field line. He moved to second on Conn's base hit. Following a walk to GREG SIGG (Maumee/Maumee) that loaded the bases, Schroeder came through for the Beavers with a two-run double to right center. Baightel picked up Sigg and Schroeder scurried home on Moore's single to left field, but Thiel got the next three Bluffton hitters out to end the threat and finishing with a 19-9 victory over the Beavers.
Tony Moore and Corey Conn led the Beavers with three hits. McPherson and Schroeder both finished with two hits. Schroeder drove in three runs, while McPherson and Conn both crossed the plate twice.
Dustin Zizelman fell to 0-2 with the loss. He gave up seven runs on nine hits in 2.1 innings of work with two strikeouts.
Bluffton returns to action on Saturday, March 15, when the Beavers travel to Thomas More College for a doubleheader. The first contest is slated for 1 p.m.
-BEAVERS-