By: Takayla Gadberry, sports information assistant
FORT MYERS, FL – The Bluffton University baseball team faced off against Saint John's University on day two in Florida. The Beavers dropped both games to the Johnnies and moved to 0-4 on Monday, March 2.
Bluffton got on the board first in the top of the first when Lenny Winiarski (Cincinnati/LaSalle) hit a two-run double that plated Parker Reynolds (Avon) and Jacob Latkofsky (Temperance, MI/Ida) for a 2-0 lead. The Beavers struck again in the top of the second when Latkofsky singled. Reid Ruhl (Hamilton) and Cale Sherbourne (Johnstown/Big Walnut) crossed the dish to push the lead to four. It was the end of Bluffton's scoring and Saint John's crossed home nine times for a 9-4 victory in game one.
Taking the mound for game one was Brantley Curnutte (Hilliard/Davidson) who allowed three runs on two hits in three innings on the bump. Sophomore Wayne Frey (Kirby/Riverdale) took the loss after surrendering six runs on five hits in three innings of relief. Leading the offense was Latkofsky who went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
The Johnnies took a quick 7-0 lead after two innings of game two. The Beavers put up two runs in the bottom of the second when Elisha Tressler (Bryan) singled and drove home Adam Duncan (Northwood/Lake). Jaxon Rogan (Marysville) scored next on a throwing error which made the score 7-2.
Saint John's scored four more runs to push their lead to nine (11-2). Bluffton put up the last score of the game when Nathaniel DeWeese (Columbus/Hilliard Davidson) scored on a Luke Hanson (Somerset/Sheridan) ground ball to make the final score 11-3 in favor of the Johnnies.
Starting for the Beavers in game two was freshman Jacob Boelkens (Millbury/Lake) gave up seven runs on eight hits in two innings on the mound. Josh Slade (Cincinnati/Madeira) took over and gave up just one run on four hits in four innings of relief. Also seeing relief action on the mound was Eddie Budinski (Louisville) and Sam Krizek (Columbia Station).
Tressler led the Beaver offense in game two, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Hanson picked up an RBI and Brandon Wilson (Casstown/Miami East) also tallied a hit in game two.
The men are back in action on March 3, 2020 when they face Misericordia in day three of Florida play. The double-header is set to start at 12 p.m. Go Beavers!
-BEAVERS-