March 29, 2011
By: Mallory Kemper, sports information intern

ALBION, Michigan - The Bluffton University baseball team traveled to Albion College on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 to take on the Britons in a non-conference game. The Beavers pounded out 16 hits in a 17-10 win over Albion. Bluffton improved to 8-10, while Britons slipped to 4-11 on the season.

Bluffton put four runs on the scoreboard in the first inning starting with a Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) single. Tim Webb (Delaware/Worthington Christian) walked and came home when Tyler Wright (Troy) reached on base thanks to one of the eight errors by the Britons. Josh Mendoza (Gibsonburg/Fremont Ross) stepped to the plate and smacked a two-run double which plated Wright and Nick Broyles (Toldeo/Whitmer).

In the second and third innings the Beavers scored a run apiece before the sixth when the visitors put together their first of two five-run frames. Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) started the sixth inning with a single and teammate Wright followed his lead as he also rapped a base hit. Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) singled to left field, scoring Wright following an Albion miscue which sent Broyles across the dish. Airic Steagall (Hillsboro) scored on Anthony Cianci's (Ravenna/Southeast) base knock and the last two runs of the inning came when Niermann poked a two-RBI base hit up the middle.

The eighth inning was much like the sixth as the Beavers tallied another five runs on four hits with two errors by the Britons. Bluffton was too much to handle as the visitors came away with a 17-10 victory, including 16 hits and eight Albion errors.

Kyle Niermann blistered the Britons with a 4-of-5 afternoon at the plate, three runs scored and two RBI. Anthony Cianci (Ravenna/Southeast) went 1-of-3 at the plate with three RBI. Designated hitter Tyler Stephenson finished 4-of-6 with one RBI.

Junior Ryan Leugers (Botkins), who improved to 2-2 on the year, did the job, tossing two innings of one-hit relief. Adrian Fritch (Edon) pitched the final inning for the Beavers, giving up two hits and one earned run.

Bluffton jumps back into Heartland Conference action when the Beavers travel to Transylvania University on Friday, April 1. The first contest of the three-game series is slated to start at 4 p.m.

-BEAVERS-