March 9, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida - The Bluffton University baseball team led #1 Heidelberg 3-2 after five innings before a five-run sixth propelled the Student Princes to a 7-3 victory on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Bluffton stands 3-4 overall while Heidelberg stayed perfect at 4-0

Following three scoreless frames to open the game, Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) ripped a double down the left field line. He moved to third on a Tyler Wright (Troy) groundout and scored on Matt McKinney's (Columbus Grove/Bath) sacrifice fly to left.

Heidelberg plated two runs in the bottom half of the frame thanks to two hits and a Bluffton miscue. The Beavers responded in the top of the fifth when Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) doubled home Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) and Airic Steagall (Hillsboro) for a 3-2 advantage.

The Student Princes rallied for five runs on four hits in the home half of the sixth, capping the scoring for the game with Heidelberg on top by a 7-3 count. Ryan Leugers (Botkins) dropped his first decision after a solid six innings of work. He allowed seven runs, only two earned, on eight hits with five strikeouts. He walked just one batter. David Ianiro (Highland Heights/Mayfield) and Sean Jaynes (Toledo/Maumee) combined to toss two shutout innings of one-hit ball.

Nick Broyles led the Bluffton offense with a 2-of-4 afternoon and two RBI. Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) saw his 23-game hitting streak snapped by the top-ranked Student Princes.

Bluffton will face John Carroll at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 10. The contest is slated for 2 p.m.

-BEAVERS-