By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
April 12, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team split a double-header with Concordia University, losing the first game 20-18 in seven innings and picking up a 14-5 victory in the nightcap on a cold and wet Saturday, April 12, 2008. The Beavers are now 11-14 overall, while the Cardinals moved to 18-12.
Concordia 20, Bluffton 18
Concordia took the early lead and did not look back, until the Beavers made a game of it in the bottom of the seventh, as the Cardinals defeated Bluffton in a high-scoring game, 20-18. With a single to shortstop, ADAM GOODWIN ignited the Cardinal offense to pick up an RBI as BEN SPRAGUE scored the first run of the game.
After digging an 8-0 hole in an inning and a half, the Beavers responded with five runs of their own, including an RBI double from A.J. RAMTHUN (Springfield/Southeastern) in the bottom of the second.
The Cardinals retaliated with a BEN SPRAGUE three-run homer that plated JOSE PAEZ and ALAN SIEPIERSKI in the top of the third inning as Concordia scored six runs to take a 14-5 lead over the home team.
The bottom of the seventh inning looked bleak for the Beavers as Concordia had an 11-run lead over the home team. Bluffton responded with new energy when a double from TONY MOORE(Elida/Elida) sent COREY CONN (London/London) and GREG SIGG (Maumee/Maumee) across the plate. A.J. Ramthun and CHRIS BAUMAN (Milford/Milford) tripled and following back-to-back CODY MCPHERSON (Millbury/Lake) and MIKE RAMTHUN (Springfield/Southeastern) base hits, the Cardinals went to the bullpen.
DAVID RIDDLE (Loveland/Milford) and Conn both pounded doubles before Concordia was forced to switch pitchers again. Conn scored thanks to a Moore triple before the game ended in the Cardinals' favor, 20-18, with the tying run at the plate.
Moore went 4-of-6 with three runs scored and four RBI to pace the Beavers. A.J. Ramthun and Chris Bauman both collected three hits while BRETT HUNT (Bucyrus/Bucyrus) and Mike Ramthun chipped in with two hits each. A. J. Ramthun scored three times in the opening game loss.
MATT PERKINS (Convoy/Crestview) fell to 0-3 with the loss, giving up 11 runs in only two innings.
Bluffton 14, Concordia 5
Concordia plated one run in the first and Bluffton responded with three runs to start the second game. After a scoreless second inning, both teams added two runs in the third frame. Leading off the bottom of the third inning, A.J. Ramthun parked a home run over the left field fence. After getting hit by a pitch, senior standout TIM KAY (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) promptly stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. A Cardinal error allowed Kay to race home, making the score 5-3 in Bluffton's favor.
The fourth inning proved to be the Beavers' best as A.J Ramthun slammed the ball over the right field fence for his second dinger in as many innings. With the bags full, BRETT HOWARD(Toledo/St. Francis DeSales) tripled to center. He scored on a passed ball before an RBI two-bagger from Riddle gave the Beavers a 12-4 advantage as Bluffton scored seven runs on just four hits.
The Beavers tacked on single runs in the fifth and sixth innings for the final 14-5 count.
Tim Kay led the Beavers with a 3-of-3 game at the dish, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. He and A.J. Ramthun, who was 2-of-4 at the plate with three RBI, both scored three runs in the victory. Brett Howard went 2-of-5 with a game-high five RBI. McPherson and Mike Ramthun both scored two runs for the Beavers.
On the mound, Kay (2-3) limited the Cardinals to five runs on nine hits for the complete game victory. He struck out five and walked just one batter.
Bluffton returns to action when it hosts Otterbein on Monday, April 14, 2008. The game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-