April 13, 2010
By: Brent Schroeder, sports information assistant

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Bluffton University baseball team fell at Manchester College as the Spartans handled the Beavers 13-2 in nine innings on Tuesday, April 13, 2010. With the win, Manchester improved to 12-13 overall and 4-4 in the Heartland Conference. Bluffton fell to 1-10 in the HCAC and 10-17 on the season.

Bluffton struck first in the top of the fourth as Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) and Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) started the inning off with back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and second with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt by senior Brennan Bauman (Milford), freshman Michael Knorr (Pickerington/North) plated Broyles with a sacrifice fly to left. Sophomore Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg)picked up Stephenson on a two-out single which put the Beavers up 2-0.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Manchester put up a three-spot in the bottom of the fourth. The Spartans began the inning with a lead-off homer and three straight singles to tie the game at two. A fielder's choice put Manchester up 3-2 with one out. Another fielder's choice at home helped Bluffton minimize the damage.

Manchester's pitching shut down the Beavers over the next five innings, holding them to just two hits and not giving up a single run. In the other dugout, the Manchester hitters were just warming up. The Spartans went on to tag the visitors for three runs in the fifth inning, one in the sixth and four more in the seventh, effectively putting the game out of reach. Two more Manchester tallies in the eighth made the final score 13-2.

Nick Broyles picked up two hits and scored a run. Miles Richardson (Granville/Newark Catholic) fell to 1-2 on the season after giving up six runs on nine hits in five innings on the hill. Kelly Barnes (Toledo/Christian) and Tyler Gibson (Sylvania/Southview) combined to pitch the final three innings for the Beavers.

Bluffton returns to action with a non-conference game at the University of St. Francis on Friday, April 16, 2010.  The contest is scheduled for a 12 p.m start in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

-BEAVERS-