March 6, 2011
By: Mallory Kemper, sports information intern
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Bluffton University baseball team took advantage of five second inning runs and five eighth inning runs as the Beavers beat John Jay, 18-7, in their first game of the Snowbird Classic at Port Charlotte, Florida, on March 6, 2011. Bluffton improved to 2-1, while John Jay fell to 0-7 on the season.
Bluffton put five runs on the scoreboard in the second inning when Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) singled to plate Matt McKinney (Columbus Grove/Bath). Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) knocked in Miles Richardson (Granville/Newark Catholic) with a sacrifice fly. Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) doubled in Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) and Niermann for a 6-2 Bluffton lead.
In the fifth inning the Beavers hit two triples and two doubles, scoring five runs. Broyles started off the frame with a three-bagger. McKinney doubled, bringing in Stephenson who reached on a dropped fly ball by John Jay. Josh Runda (Lima/Bath) came to the plate and promptly ripped a two-base hit, scoring Tyler Wright (Troy). Richardson capped the scoring in inning five when his triple scored Runda.
In the eighth inning John Jay scored four runs but the Beavers were too much as they moved to 2-1 with the 18-7 victory.
Kyle Niermann went 2-of-2 at the plate with three RBI before taking a well-deserved seat in the dugout. Stephenson, Richardson and Broyles also tallied two safeties each while Stephenson and Broyles both knocked in three runs. McKinney scored three times for the Beavers.
Sophomore starter Jordan Kruse (Napoleon), who improved to 1-0 on the year, was solid through five innings giving up only five hits and three runs, one earned. Ryan Leugers (Botkins) and Mark Hadaya (Beaavercreek) combined to go four innings, giving up three hits and four runs.
The Beavers defeated Wilmington College by a score of 13-12 in game two of the afternoon after digging a 12-1 hole midway through the game. With the score 12-1 after five innings, Bluffton exploded for six tallies. Stephenson cleared the bases with a three-run triple before Tyler Wright singled him home. Matt McKinney came through with a run-scoring double to pull within 12-7 after six frames.
Kyle Niermann had the big hit for the Beavers in the eighth when he smoked a three-run double. Tyler Wright knocked in the game-winning run with his two-RBI double. Bluffton worked around two hit batters in the top of the ninth before Adrian Fritch (Edon) recorded the final out in the Beavers' 13-12 victory.
Niermann, who is currently on a 21-game hitting streak, was a perfect 5-of-5 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored, going 7-for-7 on the day. Broyles and Wright both tallied three safeties while Stephenson and Wright both drove in three runs. Doug Paullin (Jeromesville/Hillsdale) scored two runs off the bench for the Beavers.
Ben Roeschley (Graymont, Ill./Flanagan) was superb on the hill, allowing just one hit and no runs in innings six, seven and eight while fanning two. He picked up his first collegiate win.
Bluffton meets up with OAC member John Carroll at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 7, 2011.
-BEAVERS-