By: Colton Steiner
AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Bluffton University baseball squad went toe-to-toe with the North Central Rams in their second day down in Florida. After getting on the board early, the Beavers would rally with seven insurance runs in the seventh en route to their first win of the season, knocking off North Central 10-3 to improve to 1-2 on the season while the Rams dropped to 0-3 to start the 2025 campaign.
Jack Towell (Batavia, Ohio/West Clermont) got Bluffton started in the top of the third after hitting a one-run double to left field which put the Beavers up 1-0. After holding strong defensively, Bluffton would bring home seven insurance runs in the seventh to take a commanding 8-0 advantage going into the bottom of th inning. The Rams answered back with three runs, all unearned following an error from the Beavers. Leading 8-3 going to the ninth, an RBI sacrifice fly from Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start) and a wild pitch helped Bluffton tack on two more runs for the 10-3 victory.
Leading the Beaver offense was Jack Towell, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, and Drew Snipes (Pickerington/North) who collected a pair of hits to go along with a run and an RBI. Freshman Trey Pipenger (Richmond, Ind.) drew a pair of walks and drove in two runs while senior Ethan Moore (Bellefontaine) crossed the plate twice.
The Beaver pitching crew tossed a combined no-hitter, striking out 11 batters in the contest. It was only the second no-no in Bluffton baseball history following a five-inning no-hitter from Bob Sierer in 2000! Starting for Bluffton was sophomore Matthew Becher (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) who picked up the win (1-0). Going six innings, Becher was able to fan seven batters while allowing only three walks and setting a Bluffton record with six innings of no-hit baseball. Deegan Yutzy (Mogodore/Field) tossed the final two innings for the Beavers, striking out three batters.
The Beavers will look to continue their momentum when they face off against Pitt-Greensburg at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 4, in Auburndale, Florida.
-BEAVERS-
