March 6, 2015
By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Bluffton University baseball team wrapped up its trip to Florida on a high note, defeating Alvernia College, 7-2, on Friday, March 6. The Beavers head north to the frigid cold of Ohio at 4-4 while Alvernia dropped to 6-3 on the season.
The Beavers started the scoring early with three runs in the second inning off Alvernia's Kevin Short. Bluffton loaded the sacks with a couple of base hits and a walk. Short gave up two more free passes, making the line 2-0, and also hit Tyler Spalding (Willis, Mich./Lincoln) with a pitch to score Reid Maus (Hamilton/Badin), pushing the spread to 3-0. Sophomore Jaylen Von Sossan (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) continued to mow down the Crusaders, pitching a shutout through five innings. The Beavers, meanwhile, would add two more runs on an RBI double from Spalding followed by a base hit from Jake Townley (Mansfield/Madison) for a 5-0 lead.
Alvernia finally got to Von Sossan, scoring two runs and chasing him from the contest in the sixth as the visitors on the scoreboard cut the Bluffton lead to 5-2. Kevin Every (Zanesville/West Muskingum) came on and shut the Crusaders down to keep the lead at three runs. Austin Every (Zanesville/West Muskingum) took the ball from his brother, tossing the final three innings of the contest while holding the Crusaders scoreless for the save. The Beavers tacked on two more in the seventh on an RBI double from T.J. Devore (Grove City) and a base-knock by Jeff Roth (Bellevue) that scored DeVore, capping the 7-2 victory.
Jaylen Von Sossan pitched into the sixth and gave up just one earned run (two total) on eight hits to earn his first victory on the young season. Kevin Short (0-1) gave up three runs on just two hits, but walked four batters in the loss. Kevin Every threw an inning of relief before Austin Every came in on fire, throwing three perfect innings and striking out five Crusaders to pick up his first save of 2015.
Bluffton's hitting was led by Tyler Spalding who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while first baseman Blake Fox (Berne. Ind./South Adams) and right fielder T.J. Devore both went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Devore also added two RBI. Jeff Roth was a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored for the Beavers.
Bluffton heads back to Ohio and will return to game action on Friday, March 13, as they make the trip to Toledo to take on Lourdes University and former Beaver, current Lourdes assistant Tim Berta. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Mercy Field. The Beavers will open at home on Saturday, March 14, when they host a doubleheader with Goshen College at 1 p.m. at Memorial Field. Come support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-