March 5, 2012

PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida - A pair of four-hit performances from sophomores Tyler Wright (Troy) and Airic Steagall (Hillsboro) powered Bluffton University to a 12-8 baseball win over Muskingum University on Monday, March 5, 2012. The Beavers improved to 2-3 on the season, while Muskingum slipped to 1-1.

The Fighting Muskies went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first only to see Bluffton respond with a four-spot in the second. Wright led off with the first of five consecutive singles by the Beavers. He crossed the dish on a Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) base knock and when Kevin Martin (Bryan) singled home Steagall, Bluffton led 2-1. Junior Greg Franks (Smithville) scored on a fielder's choice before Miles Richardson (Granville/Newark Catholic) drove in Trainer. 

With Bluffton up 5-2 going to the top of the fourth, Richardson smoked a two-run shot following a Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) double, making it 7-2 in favor of the Beavers. Muskingum trimmed it to 7-4 in the bottom half courtesy of two walks, a single and a sacrifice fly.

Trainer plated Steagall with a sacrifice fly to center in the fifth before a two-run Tyler Wright single an inning later made the score 10-4. The Muskies countered with three tallies in the bottom of the sixth despite just one safety in the inning. Three walks and a hit batter helped Muskingum pull within three runs (10-7) heading to the seventh frame.

Wright came through again in the eighth inning, singling home both Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) and Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) for a commanding 12-7 lead. The home team on the scoreboard tallied one run in the bottom of the eighth, but sophomore David Ianiro (Highland Heights/Mayfield) closed the door on Bluffton's 12-8 victory with a shutout ninth.

Bluffton rapped out 20 hits, including four each by Wright and Steagall. Wright drove in four and scored twice. Richardson went 3-of-6 with three RBI while Broyles, Stephenson and Steagall all scored two runs. Stephenson, Martin and Franks all chipped in with two hits.

Ryan Leugers (Botkins) improved to 1-1 after allowing four runs on eight hits in five innings of work. He fanned four and walked two batters. Freshman Brad Schlabach (Fredericksburg/Hiland) limited the Muskies to just one run in 2.2 innings of relief.

The Beavers return to action on Tuesday, March 6, when they take on John Carroll. The contest is slated for 4 p.m.

-BEAVERS-