LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Bluffton University baseball team routed Anderson University 11-3 in the opening game from Lexington, Ky., on a beautiful Thursday, May 20, 2021. A nine-run barrage by the Beavers in the eighth inning coupled with an outstanding start by sophomore Jacob Boelkens (Millbury/Lake) added up to Bluffton's first-ever victory in the double-elimination portion of the Heartland Conference Tournament! The Beavers improved to 19-22, while Anderson slipped into the loser's bracket with a record of 22-18.
Bluffton was clinging to a 2-0 lead when the offense exploded for nine runs in the top of the eighth! Brandon Wilson (Casstown/Miami East) doubled in Adam Duncan (Northwood/Lake) to make the score 3-0. Senior Reid Ruhl (Hamilton) smacked a two-run double to left center and the rout was on. Parker Reynolds (Avon) followed with a triple down the left field line and Jack Towell (Batavia/West Clermont) pushed it to 8-0 with his single down the right field line. Pinch hitter Lenny Winiarski (Cincinnati/LaSalle) picked up the RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the sacks full and Ruhl added two more RBI for good measure with a base hit through the left side.
Boelkens was nearly unhittable through eight innings, allowing just one hit with two walks, as he breezed through the Raven hitters. Consecutive Anderson one-out singles and a three-run homer kept him from the complete game, but Sam Meek (Hope, IN/Hauser) capped it off with a fly ball to center and a foul popup to first as Boelkens moved to 4-3 on the season. He struck out four and gave up just four hits in 8.1 outstanding innings on the hill.
Reynolds and Duncan pelted Anderson with three hits apiece. Five Beavers smacked two safeties and Ruhl plated four runs in the eighth inning on his two hits. Duncan, Wilson and Ruhl all scored twice, while Towell and Jacob Latkofsky (Temperence, Mich./Ida) both drove in two runs.
The Beavers will be back at Proud Park for a 5:30 p.m. start on Thursday when they take on top-seed and tournament host Transylvania following the Franklin-Earlham contest.
-BEAVERS-
