March 29, 2013
By: Kyle Stover, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton baseball team rebounded quickly from a tough loss at Denison on Thursday, opening up a conference series against Rose-Hulman with a 7-2 victory over the Fightin' Engineers. Bluffton built an early lead and added on throughout the game to preserve the win.
Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) reached a milestone leading off the bottom of the first for Bluffton, knocking a single through the right side for the 200th hit of his career. He became just the second player in Bluffton history with 200 hits and he is rapidly approaching the school record of 215, held by Tyler Stephenson.
Sophomore Nate Simonds (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) was the starter on the mound for the Beavers, turning in yet another strong performance. He kept Rose-Hulman's hitters guessing throughout the game, not walking a single batter during his time on the hill. Simonds (3-2) went 6.2 innings, scattering just six hits and two earned runs while striking out five and earning the win.
Hunter Ewing (Loveland) and David Ianiro (Highland Heights/Mayfield) closed out the game for Bluffton, combining for 2.1 scoreless innings. The two relievers shut down the Fightin' Engineers to end the game, not allowing a single hit while preserving the victory.
After Niermann's single to open up the bottom of the first for the Beavers, Miles Richardson (Granville/Newark Catholic) put down a sacrifice bunt and reached first base on an error by the opposing pitcher. Following a strikeout and Niermann being caught in a rundown, Greg Franks (Smithville) smashed a double, driving in Richardson for a 1-0 lead.
The Beavers would strike again in the bottom of the third with the game tied at one. Back-to-back doubles by Niermann and Richardson, followed by a single for Tim Webb (Delaware/Worthington Christian) gave Bluffton a lead the home team would not relinquish.
Bluffton added on more in the fifth inning, starting with an RBI single from Webb which scored Mike Castro (Reynoldsburg). Franks then smacked another double, this time getting two RBI to cap off the scoring for the inning.
One more insurance run was added in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a two-out single by third baseman Jeff Roth (Bellevue) that plated Doug Paullin (Jeromesville/Hillsdale).
Niermann led the way for the Bluffton offense with three hits in the game. Richardson, Webb and Franks each had two hits, with Franks knocking in three runs.
With the win, Bluffton improved to 10-6 on the year with a 2-2 mark in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Rose-Hulman fell to 5-10 on the season and 2-1 in the HCAC. The series continues tomorrow, March 30, when the Beavers and Fightin' Engineers face off in a doubleheader. Game one is scheduled for noon at Memorial Field in Bluffton.
-BEAVERS-