By: Ethan Stearns, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Earlham College with two more exciting wins on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The Beavers played outstanding and made yet another comeback in game one to win, 7-6, before capping the sweep with a 5-3 win. Bluffton improved to 14-8 overall and 8-1 in conference play. Earlham fell to 14-10 and 4-5 in the Heartland Conference.
Bluffton's 8-1 mark is the best-ever HCAC start for a Beaver baseball team and it has Bluffton to first place after three weeks of action. The seven straight Heartland Conference victories also equals the 2011 squad for the most in Bluffton baseball history!
Bluffton was able to draw first blood when sophomore Justin Maurer (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) homered to left field, putting his squad up 1-0.
Earlham responded with a huge half inning in the fifth, scoring four runs on three hits for a 4-1 advantage. But in what has been a common theme, the Beavers were prepared for the run and again responded in epic fashion with a three-run eight inning.
After Grant Hovest (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) worked a free pass, Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start) dialed in for his second long ball in as many games, smashing an Earlham offering over the left field fence! Mauer scored the game-tying run when Kenny Schneider (Sunbury/Big Walnut) reached on a fielder's choice to second.
Earlham re-claimed the lead with two runs on three hits in the ninth and the Beavers were fortunate to limit the damage as three Quakers were left stranded. That proved to be crucial as Bluffton would once again make an epic rally!
With Hovest on second and Baumgartner on first, senior Jack Towell (Batavia/West Clermont) cranked an RBI single which plated Hovest and made the score 6-5. Baumgartner crossed the dish when Nick Diana (Batavia/West Clermont) singled to shortstop, tying things up at 6-6. The game-winning run came with a price as Ezra Deitering (Ottawa/Miller City) stood in and took a pitch to the body with the sacks full, giving a Towell an easy stroll in for the seventh and winning run!
Baumgartner continued his hot streak with two RBIs on two hits in game one. The rest of the scoring was spread out among five Beavers, with Towell, Maurer, Diana, Deitering and Schneider all driving in runs.
Sophomore Andrew Collinsworth (Westerville/Westerville South) put up a gutty performance, pitching five innings and notching seven punchouts against only three walks. Darius Boeke (Sidney) moved to 2-0 on the year, getting the final two outs with one K.
After two come from behind victories, Beaver fans were able to catch their breath as Bluffton played with the lead for the entire game after Towell put the Beavers up with a sacrifice fly in the first.
Following a base hit and a stolen base from Austin Francis (Troy/Miami East) in the bottom of the fifth, Hovest worked a walk. With both runners on the move, Towell slapped a two-bagger down the left field line for a 3-0 lead. Mauer's double scored Towell and the fifth run came thanks to an Earlham error which allowed Mauer to scurry home.
The Quakers showed life with three runs on four hits in the eighth, but Bluffton worked out of the threat and held Earlham off for the 5-3 victory in game three.
Towell continued to show out, driving in three of Bluffton's five runs in game two. Mauer also added an RBI for the Beavers.
Jaden Jaques (New Palestine) improved to 4-1 with a dominating performance, allowing three runs with no walks in 7+ innings. Sophomore Nathan Young (Copley) worked a scoreless eighth before senior Carson Curnutte (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) came on and tossed a perfect ninth for his first save of the season!
The Beavers will look to win their fourth straight game when they welcome Wittenberg for a non-conference showdown with the 16-6 Tigers on Wednesday, April 12. The first pitch at Memorial Field is slated for 4:15 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
