April 20, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Franklin College baseball team scored early and often to complete a three-game sweep over Bluffton University on Sunday, April 20, 2008. The Beavers dropped to 12-18 overall and 4-10 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, while Franklin improved to 19-10 with a 13-5 mark in the HCAC.
The Grizzlies scored six runs on five hits in the top of the first inning and never looked back. Bluffton got its first out following three Franklin singles and a hit batter. IAN SANDERSsmoked a two-RBI triple to left center and he crossed the plate when PAUL STRACK drove a three-bagger to the wall in right center. The Beavers finally got out of the inning after an ALEX BOONE sacrifice fly and a Franklin groundout.
TONY MOORE (Elida/Elida) singled to open the bottom of the first. Following a walk to A.J. RAMTHUN (Springfield/Southeastern), TIM KAY'S (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) groundout to first left both runners in scoring position. JIMMY MCMONAGLE (Ida, Mich./Ida) drilled his first triple of the season, clearing the bases and cutting the deficit to four runs after one inning.
With two outs in the top of the second, back-to-back singles by JOEL CHROBAK and JIM SWIENCONEK put runners on the corners. A wild throw on an attempted pickoff allowed Franklin to put an unearned run on the scoreboard for a 7-2 lead.
Moore plated MIKE RAMTHUN (Springfield/Southeastern) with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second before the visitors put the game away with three runs in the third frame. ADAM BLACKBURN delivered a two-RBI single to center field and ALEX BOONE crossed the plate on a fielder's choice as Franklin built a 10-3 lead after three innings of play.
The Grizzlies tacked on a run in the fourth inning and three more in the sixth, while Bluffton posted single runs in the fourth, fifth and ninth innings to make the final score 14-6 in favor of the visitors. BRETT HOWARD (Toledo/St. Francis DeSales) scored on Tony Moore's single to right after he laced a one-out double to right center in the fourth inning. Kay doubled and scored in the fifth inning and ALLEN SLABAUGH (Dalton/Dalton) scored on GREG SIGG'S(Maumee/Maumee) base knock in the ninth.
Tim Kay went 3-of-5 with two doubles and one run scored. Brett Howard was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored. Moore and McMonagle both collected two hits in the loss. McMonagle drove in three runs and Moore finished with two RBI.
CODY MCPHERSON (Millbury/Lake) fell to 3-2 with the loss. He surrendered 10 runs on 10 hits in 2+ innings of work. Junior JAMES HAUSMAN (Milford/Milford) struck out seven batters while giving up four runs on six hits in six innings of relief. BRANDON FREYTAG(Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) worked a perfect ninth with one strikeout for the Beavers.
Bluffton returns to action on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, when the Beavers travel to face rival Defiance College. The nine-inning contest is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
-BEAVERS-