The Bluffton University baseball team fell twice to Mount St. Joseph, 6-0 and 14-3, on Saturday, March 26, in Heartland Conference action. The Beavers slipped to 7-10 on the season and 0-3 in the HCAC, while MSJ improved to a perfect 3-0 in the HCAC and 10-7 overall.
Mount St. Joseph opened the first inning with a single and a double to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. In the second inning MSJ was on fire, scoring four runs thanks to a Craig Shanks double and a Josh Denny triple. The Lions plated another run in the fifth to complete the scoring in their 6-0 shutout victory over the Beavers.
Bluffton managed just four singles, while the home team finished with 10 hits, including three doubles and one triple. Nick Rodesky (Bowling Green) fell to 0-3 after giving up five runs in just 1.2 innings on the hill. Drew Ernst (1-1) tossed a complete-game, five-hit shutout, going seven innings for the victory.
The Mount scored multiple runs in five of their eight at-bats en route to a convincing 14-3 victory on Saturday afternoon. Bluffton finally got on the scoreboard for the first time in the eighth frame. Tad Margolies () lifted a sacrifice fly, scoring Kyle Niermann (Napoleon). In the ninth inning the Beavers started to show signs of life with an Anthony Cianci (Ravenna/Southeast) single, a Doug Paullin (Jeromesville/Hilsdale) two-bagger and a Kyle Niermann two-run double to left field. However, MSJ was too much to handle as the Lions finished off another HCAC victory over the Beavers, 14-3.
Brandon Bouley (3-2) picked up the win, throwing eight innings while giving up only four hits and one unearned run. Sophomore starter Jordan Kruse (Napoleon), who fell to 2-2 on the season, took the loss, tossing 4.2 innings. He gave up seven hits and six earned runs.
The Bluffton University baseball team will travel to Albion College for a non-conference clash on Tuesday, March 29. The battle between the Britons and the Beavers is slated for 4 p.m.
