By: Colton Steiner
BLUFFTON, Ohio - It was a windy and chilly day in Bluffton as the Bluffton University baseball squad faced off against the Transylvania Pioneers in their first HCAC games of the season on Saturday, March 22, 2025. After getting on board first, the visiting Pioneers led 7-5 going into the bottom of the ninth when the Beavers rallied for three runs to win game one, 8-7. It was a different story in the second game as the visitors cruised to a 16-3 victory over Bluffton. The Beavers moved to 3-11 on the season and 1-1 to start conference play while Transylvania stands 8-7 and 1-1 in the HCAC.
Bluffton got on the board first as the Beavers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second after freshman Trey Pipenger (Richmond, Ind.) drove a double to left to put the home team ahead 2-0. The lead would be short lived, however, as two RBI singles knotted the ballgame at 2-2 in the top of the third before a Beaver fielding error allowed two more runs to cross home plate, giving Transylvania a 4-2 advantage.
Bluffton wouldn't let the Pioneers hold the lead for long as a Drew Snipes (Pickerington/North) single to center plated senior Justin Maurer (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) in the bottom of the inning to cut the dficit to one. Evan Houseman (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) tied the game at 4-4 with a bloop to center which scored Brandon North (Hilliard/Bradley). Following a scoreless fourth, an RBI single in the fifth allowed the Pioneers to retake the lead, 5-4, after a grounder found the gap between second and third.
The Beavers made it 5-5 after an Ayden Spriggs (North Lewisburg/Triad) RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, but Transylvania would score runs in the top of the eight and the ninth to go ahead 7-5. The bottom of the ninth is when all the fun took place. Bluffton made the most of a couple Pioneer miscues in the field and it tied the game after Jake McCoy (Milford) drew a walk with bases loaded. The Beavers would then call on Colton Rinehart (Richmond, Ind./Centerville) to pinch hit, where the freshman poked a single to center, driving home the game-winning run to walk it off for Bluffton.
Having a superb day at the plate was sophomore Brandon North who went 3-for-5 and crossed home plate two times. Justin Maurer and Trey Pipenger would each collect a pair of hits, with Pipenger and Jack Towell (Batavia/West Clermont) each smacking doubles in game one. Picking up the victory was senior hurler Andrew Collinsworth (Westerville/Westerville South) who improved to 1-1 on the season. He allowed no hits and struck out both batters he faced! Riley Reyna (Wellington) would start the day on the hill, going 5.0 innings while allowing nine hits and four earned runs with three strikeouts on the day.
The Beavers went up 1-0 with Ayden Spriggs driving a single down the right field line which scored Justin Maurer in the bottom of the first. Transylvania got it rolling with eight runs over the next two innings to go ahead 8-1 entering the bottom of the third. The Beavers would bring home a run in the bottom of the third off a wild pitch, but the Pioneers outscored Bluffton 8-1 over the next four innings to cap off their 16-3 mercy-rule victory in seven innings.
The Beavers struggled to bring home baserunners, leaving 11 on base in just seven innings. Justin Maurer and Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start) each notched a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 at the plate. One of Maurer's hits would go for a double and Jake McCoy ripped a triple.
Dropping to 0-3 on the year was senior Nathan Young (Copley), who started on the mound and went only 2.1 innings. He allowed seven runs off seven hits that included a pair of home runs. Young was able to fan four batters, but the Bluffton pitching staff struggled in game two, allowing 15 earned runs off 16 total hits.
The Beavers will get right back into action on Monday, March 24, when they travel to Anderson University to face off against the Ravens in a doubleheader which kicks off at noon.
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