April 30, 2010
ANDERSON, Ind. - The Bluffton University baseball team rallied from a 9-0 deficit, but the Anderson University Ravens came back with seven runs in innings six through eight to post a 16-13 win over the Beavers on Friday, April 30, 2010. Bluffton had its five-game winning streak snapped just one short of tying the school record. The Beavers fell to 15-19 overall and 5-11 in the Heartland Conference, while Anderson improved to 20-14 and 11-5 in the HCAC.
The home team took advantage of two Jeremy Hazen home runs and 11 hits in the first three innings to take a commanding 9-0 lead over the Beavers in game one of the Heartland Conference series.
Bluffton answered back with seven runs in the top of the fourth on just four hits. AU starter Greg Vogt hit a batter, unleashed a wild pitch and walked four Beavers in a stretch of five hitters before getting the hook with a 9-3 lead and two outs in the inning. Stephen Torres (Lima/Juan Diego) greeted reliever Schnepp with an RBI single before Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) delivered a bases-clearing two-bagger that made the score 9-7.
An inning later, Bluffton went to work again, this time plating five runs before Anderson's defense could get off the field. Greg Bergstedt (Napoleon/Patrick Henry) singled home Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) and Miles Richardson (Granville/Newark Catholic) tied the game when his base hit sent Cody McPherson (Northwood/Millbury Lake) across the plate. Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) doubled home Bergstedt and Nick Broyles again came through with a two-run double for the 12-9 lead over Anderson.
After Jordan Kruse (Napoleon) set the Ravens down in order in the bottom of the fifth, Anderson used three hits and Bluffton's only error of the game to knot the score at 12 going to the seventh.
McPherson knocked in Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, but Stone's two-run shot, his second homer in as many innings, gave Anderson a 14-13 advantage. Another Anderson long ball in the eighth made the final score 16-13.
Tyler Stephenson continued his assault on opposing pitching, going 4-of-6 with two runs scored. Nick Broyles drove in five runs on two doubles. Torres, Niermann and Trainer all finished with two safeties. Niermann, Trainer, McPherson and Richardson scored two runs each, while Niermann, McPherson and Bergstedt all finished with two RBI.
Brennan Bauman (Milford) fell to 0-3 with the loss after allowing three runs on two hits in 1.2 innings of relief. Game one starter Adrian Fritch (Edon) gave up nine runs on 13 hits in just four innings of work.
Bluffton returns to action on Saturday, May 1, when the Beavers continue their three-game series at Anderson. The first game at Raven Park is slated for 12 p.m.
-BEAVERS-