By: Takayla Gadberry, sports information assistant
The Bluffton University baseball team faced off against Thiel College and Baruch College on Friday, March 6, 2020, for day six in Florida. The Beavers picked up two wins on the day to move to 4-5 on the season with four victories in their last five contests.
Bluffton started off hot in game one when a wild pitch scored Jacob Latkofsky (Temperance, MI/Ida) before a Garrett O'Reilly (Galena/Orange) RBI single plated Adam Duncan (Northwood/Lake). Thiel would score a run in the bottom of the first before the Beavers sent five more runs across the plate for a commanding 7-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Tomcats scored three runs to pull within three (7-4). Two more RBI singles from Parker Reynolds (Avon) and Latkofsky pushed the spread to 10-4. Thiel would score three more times but it wouldn't be enough as Bluffton secured an 11-7 victory to begin the day.
Taking the mound in game one was sophomore Carson Curnutte (Hilliard/Davidson). Curnutte allowed four runs on eight hits and walked just one in his four innings of work. Taking over and tallying the victory was Eddie Budinski (Louisville) who allowed only one run on three hits with five strikeouts in his four outstanding innings of relief. Closing out the game was Bryce Fink (Medina) with two runs on two hits.
Powering the offense was Reynolds who went 3-for-4, crossed the plate twice and tallied three RBI. O'Reilly went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Elisha Tressler (Bryan) and Latkofsky picked up an RBI apiece in the victory.
After a short break and a field change, the Beavers were back in action against Baruch College in a night game. Bluffton got on the board first when a dropped fly allowed Latkofsky to cross the plate. Jack Towell (Batavia/West Clermont) and Jaxon Rogan (Marysville) both picked up RBI's in the bottom of the first to give the Beavers a 4-0 lead until Baruch tied it up in the top of the third.
An Adam Yoh (Milford) single scored Rogan in the bottom of the fourth to put the Beavers back on top, 5-4. In the bottom of the fifth, Cale Sherbourne (Johnstown/Big Walnut) cracked a double that sent Reid Ruhl (Hamilton) and Towell home for a 7-4 lead. The Bearcats plated two more runs but the Bluffton defense was able to hold them off for a 7-6 victory.
Tommy Siemer (Liberty Township/Lakota East) picked up the win in game two, giving up four runs on five hits and striking out three in six innings of work. Justin Moore (Elida) took over for the seventh and allowed one run on one hit. Picking up the save was Sam Krizek (Columbia) who struck out one and allowed no runs on one hit in his 1.1 innings of relief.
Rogan led the offense in game two, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Towell picked up an RBI and went 1-for-3, crossing the plate twice. Sherbourne also picked up two RBI in the sweep.
The Beavers close out their Florida trip on Saturday, March 7, against Rockford. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Go Beavers!
-BEAVERS-