March 22, 2008
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team held leads in both games, but Mt. St. Joseph roared back to complete a Heartland Conference series sweep of the Beavers on Saturday, March 22, 2008. The Lions took game one by a score of 6-2 and MSJ rallied from a four-run deficit in the final contest for a 12-6 victory over the visitors. Bluffton fell to 5-8 overall and 0-3 in the HCAC with its sixth straight setback, while the Mount improved to 6-7, including a spotless 3-0 mark in the Heartland Conference.
Mt. St. Joseph 6, Bluffton 2
Following two scoreless innings to open the game, Bluffton took a 1-0 lead in the third with a two-out rally. Senior TIM KAY (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) bunted his way on and he crossed the plate when MIKE RAMTHUN (Springfield/Southeastern) singled to left field.
The Lions responded with three runs in the home half of the third, taking a lead that they never relinquished. MEADORS singled and he came around when Bluffton misplayed RODRIGUEZ'Sshot to second base. An URMSTON double plated Rodriguez. A wild pitch and a NORTONsingle made the score 3-1 after three innings of play.
Another three-run inning by MSJ made the score 6-1 in favor of the Lions after four frames. The Mount pounded out three hits and WEIMER stole home before JAMES HAUSMAN(Milford/Milford), who entered the game with one down, struck out Norton and BIEN looking to get out of the inning without further damage.
The Beavers took advantage of a leadoff single by Kay and a pair of MSJ errors in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to four runs, but ZIEMAN closed the door as the Lions held on for the 6-2 victory in the first game at Xavier University.
Kay led Bluffton at the plate, going 2-of-2 while scoring both runs in the contest. He fell to 1-2 on the season, giving up six runs on eight hits in just 3.1 innings on the mound. He finished the game with four strikeouts. Hausman limited MSJ to two hits in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Mt. St. Joseph 12, Bluffton 6
Bluffton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game two. TONY MOORE(Elida/Elida) led off with a base hit and he came around when A.J. RAMTHUN(Springfield/Southeastern) doubled to left field. An RBI double by starting pitcher CODY MCPHERSON (Millbury/Lake) picked up Ramthun and the Beavers led by two runs after one.
A.J. Ramthun took first base after being hit by a pitch to open the fifth inning. He moved to third on Kay's single down the right field line. Ramthun's brother Mike made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to center field and Kay crossed the plate following an RBI single by STEVE ROBERTS (West Salem/Mapleton).
DeBra cut the deficit in half with his single in the bottom of the sixth inning which plated both Rodriguez and Weimer.
Bluffton answered with two more runs in the top of the seventh to make the score 6-2 in favor of the visitors. CHRIS BAUMAN'S (Milford/Milford) double to right put two runners in scoring position for Roberts who made the Lions pay with his single to right center which scored McPherson and Bauman.
Mt. St. Joseph came back to tie the game in the bottom of the frame with four runs. The Lions put together four hits, including a pair of doubles, and a walk as Bluffton saw its lead slip away before Hausman came on to get the final out of the inning.
The bottom of the eighth saw MSJ take advantage of four more hits and a Bluffton error, along with two wild pitches and a hit batter, as the Lions put the game on ice with six runs before the dust settled. The 12-6 victory by the Mount completed the three-game sweep of the Beavers.
A.J. Ramthun, McPherson and Roberts all rapped two hits to lead Bluffton. Roberts drove in three runs while Ramthun scored twice.
McPherson went 6.2 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Hausman dropped to 1-1 after surrendering three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Bluffton is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, March 25, when the Beavers host Ohio Northern for a doubleheader. The first contest is slated to start at 1 p.m.
-BEAVERS-