March 21, 2008
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team built a 6-2 lead over Mt. St. Joseph in the first game of the weekend Heartland Conference series, but the Lions rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh and held on for a 10-6 victory over the visiting Beavers on Friday, March 21, 2008. Bluffton fell to 5-6, while MSJ improved to 4-7 following the HCAC opener for both teams.
After a scoreless first inning, Bluffton jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the home team at the University of Cincinnati in the top of the second. MIKE RAMTHUN (Springfield/Southeastern) and CHRIS BAUMAN (Milford/Milford) sandwiched singles around a walk to CODY MCPHERSON (Millbury/Lake), loading the bases for COREY CONN (London/London) with no outs. Conn lifted a sacrifice fly to center, plating Ramthun for the first score of the game. McPherson crossed the plate thanks to an MSJ error, but the Lions avoided further damage with an inning-ending double play.
The Mount used two singles and a walk to cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the first.
CURTIS SCHROEDER'S (Shelby/Shelby) RBI single to center in the top of the fourth plated Mike Ramthun and made the score 3-1 in favor of the Beavers.
In the top of the fifth inning, A. J. RAMTHUN (Springfield/Southeastern) and TIM KAY(Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) both rapped base hits to start the frame. A McPherson single scored Ramthun and Kay crossed the plate when Conn smacked a double to left field.
MSJ made the score 5-2 in the home half when URMSTON led off with a home run to left center.
Chris Bauman picked up Kay with an RBI double to left center in the top of the seventh.
The Lions took advantage of Bluffton's pitching change in the bottom of the seventh inning as MSJ used five hits, an error and two wild pitches to erase a four-run deficit and take a 9-6 lead over the visitors before the dust settled. McPherson ended the inning by throwing out Urmston at home after the Mount pasted seven runs on the scoreboard in the inning.
A NORTON triple plated DEBRA in the bottom of the eighth as the Lions opened HCAC action with a 10-6 victory over the Beavers.
A.J. Ramthun and Chris Bauman led the Beavers with three hits each. Kay and McPherson also finished with multiple hits in the loss as Bluffton pounded 14 hits off Strittholt who picked up the victory for MSJ. Conn drove in two runs while Kay and Mike Ramthun both scored twice.
MATT PERKINS (Convoy/Crestview) gave up only two runs on seven hits over six innings with eight strikeouts, but the Bluffton bullpen failed to close the door as WILLIAM GERBER(Kidron/Central Christian) fell to 1-1 with the loss.
The Beavers return to action on Saturday, March 22, when they travel to Xavier University for the final two games of the HCAC series against Mt. St. Joseph. The first contest is slated to start at 12 p.m.
-BEAVERS-