March 26, 2010

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Bluffton University baseball team jumped on top 2-0 in the top of the first, but Rose-Hulman took advantage of five unearned runs to pull out an 8-5 victory over the Beavers on Friday, March 26, 2010. Bluffton fell to 7-8 overall and 0-1 in the Heartland Conference, while the Engineers improved to 12-3 and 1-0 in the HCAC.

Following a one-out single by Stephen Torres (Lima/Juan Diego) in the top of the first, Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) made it 2-0 with his two-run homer. Ryan Leugers (Botkins) recorded a perfect first before working around two singles and a walk in the RHIT second.

The home team knotted the contest in the home third despite going hitless in the frame. Two errors, two walks and a hit batter allowed Rose to plate two runs before Adrian Fritch (Edon) came on and kept the damage to a minimum.

Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) put Bluffton back on top with his RBI single that scored Brennan Bauman (Milford) in the fourth inning. The lead was short lived as two more Bluffton miscues in the home half gave RHIT a 4-3 lead after four innings of play.

Rose added to its advantage with three scores in the bottom of the sixth. Two hit batters and a Bluffton error helped the Engineers open up a 7-3 lead after six frames. The Beavers loaded the sacks with no outs in the top of the seventh, but a strikeout and ground ball double play kept Bluffton from cutting into the Rose lead.

After the Engineers tacked on a run in the bottom of the inning, a double play ended Bluffton's threat in the eighth. Three straight walks by Rose to open the ninth gave the Beavers hope as Bluffton loaded the bases again with nobody out. A double play grooundout  by Torres allowed David Riddle (Loveland/Milford) to score and Tyler Stephenson's RBI single picked up Josh Mendoza (Gibsonburg/Fremont Ross), but Rose held off the Beavers 8-5, capturing the HCAC lidlifter for both teams.

Stephenson, Trainer and Bauman all rapped two hits for the Beavers. Stephenson drove in two with his first inning dinger. Four Bluffton pitchers allowed eight runs, only three earned, but six walks, four hit batters and five errors were too much for the Beavers to overcome against the pre-season favorite in the HCAC.

Bluffton and RHIT will lock horns two more times on Saturday, March 27, 2010. The first contest is slated for 1 p.m.

-BEAVERS-