March 11, 2014
MASON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team took advantage of a Wilmington error in the first inning, plating an unearned run that turned out to be all the Beavers would need as three Bluffton hurlers combined to toss a three-hitter in a 7-0 shutout on Tuesday, March 11 at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio. The Beavers improved to 6-4 with their fourth straight victory, while Wilmington stayed winless at 0-9 on the season.
An error and a Doug Paullin (Jeromesville/Hillsdale) sacrifice bunt put David Ianiro (Highland Heights/Mayfield) in scoring position for fellow senior Tim Webb (Delaware/Worthington Christian) who promptly singled to right field for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Two Wilmington errors and four hits added up to a three spot for the Beavers in the top of the third. Tyler Spalding (Willis, Mich./Lincoln) singled home Paullin and Mike Castro (Reynoldsburg) picked up Webb before Spalding made it 4-0 when Michael Alexander (Monroe) reached on a Wilmington miscue.
The Beavers tacked on two more runs in the seventh when Christian Vail's (Lucas) bunt single allowed Jeff Roth (Bellevue) to score as the throw got away. Ianiro drove Vail home with his sacrifice fly to left one batter later.
Spalding scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth thanks to a leadoff walk, a wild pitch, a passed ball and yet another Wilmington error.
Paullin and Webb both finished with two hits in the 7-0 victory on a warm Tuesday evening. Spalding scored two runs for the Beavers. The story of the day, however, was the outstanding pitching performances turned in by a trio of hurlers. Senior Nate Simonds (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) allowed just three hits with five strikeouts over five innings for his first victory of the season. Senior Ben Roeschley (Graymont, Ill./Flanagan) and freshman Dyson Bowman (Coshocton) worked to the minimum 12 batters over the final four frames thanks to a double-play ball in the seventh as Bluffton wrapped up its fourth consecutive win.
Bluffton returns to action with a non-conference doubleheader at Oberlin College on Saturday, March 15. The first contest is slated for 1 p.m.
-BEAVERS-