April 1, 2017

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team opened its three-game series on Saturday afternoon with a 5-1 loss to Manchester University. Bluffton fell to 9-6 overall and 2-3 in the Heartland Conference, while the Spartans upped their mark to 6-11 and 3-3 in the HCAC.

Bluffton broke the scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the fifth. REID MAUS(Hamilton/Badin) doubled home freshman CHASE LAWNICZAK (Toledo/Whitmer) for a 1-0 lead. Despite taking a hard shot to the foot in the top of the inning, senior hurler DYSON BOWMAN (Coshocton) continued to deal. He set down a school-record tying 13 batters in seven innings of work.

The shutout came to a screeching halt in the eighth when Manchester took advantage of two hit batters, a walk and four singles for a 4-1 lead heading to the final frame. The visitors added an insurance tally in the ninth and worked around a one-out walk to wrap up a 5-1 victory in the series lidlifter on a chilly Saturday afternoon.

Lawniczak and AUSTIN PROSSER (Galion) both smacked two hits for the Beavers. Bowman was on fire, fanning 13 batters against just two walks. He allowed three hits in seven innings while equaling Ben Roeschley (2013) for the most strikeouts in a game! TAYLOR GAMBRELL(Bowling Green) fell to 1-1 after surrendering four runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Bluffton will need to put game one in the rear-view mirror with a Sunday doubleheader against Manchester up next for the Beavers. The first contest is slated for 12 p.m. at Memorial Field.

-BEAVERS-