By Takayla Gadberry, sports information assistant
The Bluffton University baseball team finished off its spring break trip with a 5-3 victory over Rockford University in Ft. Meyers, FL. The Beavers improved to 3-6 on the season while the Regents dropped to 3-3.
Bluffton took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third when a Jeff Strayer (Columbus/Thomas Worthington) single ignited a rally that saw Nick Diana (Batavia/West Clermont), Grant Hovest (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) and Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start) cross the dish. Rockford answered back in the top of the fourth to make the score 3-1. A wild pitch from the Regents plated Adam Yoh (Milford) and Diana scurried home on Baumgartner's grounder to third, securing the 5-3 victory for Bluffton.
Garrett O'Reilly (Galena/Orange) was back on the hill for his second start of the week, throwing four innings of five-hit ball. Jacob Daulton (Batavia) picked up the win with his two innings of two-hit and two-strikeout relief. Tallying his second save for the season and finishing off the victory was Seth Evans (Ada/OSU-Lima) who allowed one hit in the ninth. The Bluffton offense was fueled by Hovest who was a perfect 3-for-3. Jack Towell (Batavia/West Clermont), Strayer and Baumgartner drove in one run apiece. Diana went 2-of-4 with two runs scored.
The Beavers will head back to Bluffton and take a week to regroup before hitting the dirt again on Saturday, March 19, for a doubleheader against Ohio Wesleyan. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Memorial Field. Make sure to come out and support the Beavers in their 2022 home opener.
More Bluffton University sports: https://blufftonbeavers.com/
