AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Bluffton University baseball team dropped a 21-14 decision to Clark on Thursday, March 6, 2025. The Beavers fell to 1-5, while Clark upped its mark to 6-2 on the season. 

Clark scored three times in the top of the first, but the Beavers responded with three of their own in the home half of the inning. Bluffton pounded out five straight hits, starting with back-to-back doubles from Jack Towell (Batavia/West Clermont) and Brody Hammersley (Coshocton) followed by base knocks for Evan Houseman (Springfield/Kenton Ridge), Ayden Spriggs (North Lewisburg/Triad) and Colton Rinehart (Richmond, Ind./Centerville) which had the game knotted going to the second frame.

The Cougars got to Bluffton for five runs in the second and five more in the third, opening a 13-3 lead. A Spriggs double plated Houseman, making it 13-4 going to the fourth.

Bluffton started to make some noise in the fourth as Towell singled home Jake McCoy (Milford) before a three-run Hammersley bomb pulled the Beavers within five at 13-8.

Another four-spot by the home team on the scoreboard in the fifth made it a one-run game. Towell, Hammersley and Spriggs all drove in scores as the Beaver fans were on their feet.

Although Towell and Brandon North (Hilliard/Bradley) added to the Bluffton scoring column in the sixth and seventh, Clark tacked on eight tallies over the final four innings en route to the 21-14 victory on a cool and windy Thursday.

Hammersley went 2-of-5 with five RBI and three runs scored. Towell was 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs. Spriggs added four hits and two RBI, while Drew Snipes (Pickerington/North) and McCoy scored two runs apiece. 

Senior Wyatt Groves (Marengo/Highland) slipped to 0-2 in Florida after surrendering eight runs on six hits with two walks in 1.2 innings of work.

Bluffton will cap off its week with a pair of games on Friday, March 7, 2025. The Beavers take on St. Vincent at 4 p.m. before battling RIT at approximately 7 p.m.

-BEAVERS-