April 11, 2014

BLUFFTON, Ohio - A pair of big innings proved too much to overcome as Transylvania pounded 22 hits in a 17-11 win over Bluffton in the series opener on a beautiful Friday, April 11, 2014. Bluffton dipped to 11-13 overall and 4-8 in the Heartland Conference, while the Pioneers upped their overall mark to 14-12 with an 8-4 record in the HCAC.

With two outs in the top of the first, it seemed like the start of any other game staged at cozy Memorial Field. However, two Bluffton errors and six hits later, Transy found the scoreboard to its liking as eight unearned runs quieted the home crowd in a hurry.

Senior Tim Webb (Delaware/Worthington Christian) lifted a three-run tater to right field in the home half, breathing some life into the fans while making the score 8-3. Starter Ben Roeschley (Graymont, Ill./Flanagan) took advantage of the run support, tossing three straight shutout frames as Bluffton rallied in the fourth.

The Beavers turned an 8-4 deficit into a 10-8 advantage in inning four thanks to six hits, including a three-run double to the wall in left center by sophomore Cade Randolph (Marengo/Highland) that just missed going out of the park for a grand slam. Christian Vail (Lucas) doubled home Randolph while Webb and Jeff Roth (Bellevue) added RBI singles.

Transy cashed in with six more runs in the sixth after a single tally in the fifth, making the score 15-10 in favor of the visitors. Vail crossed the dish to make the score 15-11 after six frames, but the Pioneers added insurance tallies in the eighth and ninth for a 17-11 final in the series lidlifter.

Tim Webb blistered the ball all afternoon, going 4-of-5 with four RBI and three runs scored. Vail finished 3-of-4 with two runs scored and two RBI while Randolph drove in three runs. Michael Alexander (Monroe), Luke Hickey (Toledo/Whitmer), Jake Townley (Mansfield/Madison), Randolph and Roth all chipped in with two hits on Friday.

Roeschley weathered the eight unearned runs in the first, allowing nine runs, one earned, on 10 hits in five innings of work. Freshman Corey Johnson (Waverly) fell to 0-3 on the season with the loss.

Bluffton and Transylvania will wrap up the series with a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, April 12. Come enjoy the fine weather at Memorial Field and support your Beavers!

-BEAVERS-