March 22, 2016
By: Josh Burkholder, sports information assistant

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team was unable to overcome a four-run sixth inning from the Albion College Britons on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, falling by a score of 9-4. Bluffton dipped to 5-8 on the season, while Albion improved to 7-4 on the season.

Albion opened the scoring in the second inning on a two-run homer to left field. The Beavers answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame, on a BRANDON MARABLE(Columbus/Hamilton Township) fielder's choice to shortstop that scored JASON COLLIVER(Beavercreek) from third.  Bluffton then tied it up in the fourth when Marable walked and stole second before LUKE HICKEY (Toledo/Whitmer) picked him up with an RBI double.

Albion retook the lead with a run in the top of the fifth. The Britons then played add-on with four in the sixth and two in the seventh, building a 9-2 advantage. Bluffton rounded out the scoring with two solo homers, one from CLAYTON SIDERS (Delaware/Worthington Christian) in the seventh and another from Hickey in the bottom of the ninth. It was too little, too late for the Beavers as the home team fell by a 9-4 count.

Bluffton outhit the Britons, 13-12, but was unable to manufacture runs as the Beavers left 11 men on base. Hickey led the Bluffton offense, going 4-for-5 with a homer and two RBI. REID MAUS (Hamilton/Badin), AUSTIN PROSSER (Galion) and Siders contributed two hits apiece. 

DYSON BOWMAN (Coshocton) made the most of the inning he pitched, striking out the side in the third. Fellow junior KEVIN EVERY (Zanesville/West Muskingum) was saddled with the loss, dropping to 0-2 on the season, despite giving up just one run on one hit. 

The Beavers return to action on Good Friday, March 25, when they travel to Anderson University for the first league doubleheader of the season. The first contest is slated to start at 1 p.m. Bluffton caps its initial HCAC series with a single game against the Ravens on Saturday at 12 p.m.

-BEAVERS-