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Bluffton wins home opener over Hanover, 5-4

Posted: Mar 28, 2008

March 28, 2008

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team scored in only one inning, but it was enough for the Beavers to take their 2008 home opener at Memorial Field by a final score of 5-4 over Heartland Conference rival Hanover College on Friday, March 28, 2008. The Beavers improved to 7-9 overall and 1-3 in the HCAC with the victory. Hanover dropped to 3-12, with a 0-4 mark in the conference.

Following two scoreless frames to open the game, Hanover took advantage of three hits and two errors to score four runs and chase starter MATT PERKINS (Convoy/Crestview) with two outs in the top of the third inning. Three walks and two passed balls ended Perkins day, but JAMES HAUSMAN (Milford/Milford) came on and got GERTH to fly out to end the outburst at four unearned runs.

Bluffton answered in the home half with five unearned runs for a 5-4 lead which Hausman made stand up over the final six innings. COREY CONN (London/London) reached when his third strike went to the backstop. Following a walk to JIMMY MCMONAGLE (Ida, Mich./Ida), Conn scored when DAVID RIDDLE (Milford/Milford) reached on a Hanover throwing error. McMonagle crossed the plate when a pickoff attempt went awry. TIM KAY (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) plated Riddle with a single to right center and following a MIKE RAMTHUN (Springfield/Southeastern) base hit, CODY MCPHERSON (Millbury/Lake) smoked a double to left center for a 5-4 Bluffton lead.

Hausman and SCHWARTZ settled in after the third inning and the Beavers held on for a 5-4 victory in Bluffton's 2008 home opener at the recently renovated Bluffton University Memorial Field.

McMonagle led the Beavers with two hits while McPherson drove in two runs, including the game-winner. Hausman limited Hanover to only four hits while working 6.1 innings of scoreless relief to improve to 2-1 on the season. He did not give up a walk in the victory.

Bluffton returns to action on Saturday, March 29, when the Beavers host Hanover College in a HCAC doubleheader. The first contest is slated to start a 1 p.m.

-BEAVERS-