By Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant

JCU stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/baseball/2012/03-04-b1.htm I B-W stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/baseball/2012/03-04-b2.htm

The Bluffton University baseball team picked up its first win of the year in its Florida lidlifter when it defeated John Carroll 8-5 on Sunday, March 4. A 17-5 setback at the hands of Baldwin-Wallace gave the Beavers (1-3) a split during the first day of the Snowbird Classic.

The Beavers plated one run in the second and third innings, four in fourth and two in the eighth for the 8-5 victory over a John Carroll squad that slipped to 0-3 on the season.

Miles Richardson (Granville/Newark Catholic) improved to 1-1 on the season while tossing seven innings of two-run ball. Ben Roeschley (Graymont, Ill./Flanagan) allowed three runs in the eighth before Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) earned a save for the Beavers by striking out three batters in the final frame.

In the second inning, Tyler Wright (Troy) ripped a triple and then crossed the plate on an Airic Steagall (Hillsboro) RBI groundout. Kevin Martin (Bryan) scored a run for the Beavers in the third inning. He singled, moved to second on an error, went to third on a fielder's choice and crossed the plate thanks to a wild pitch.

Wright doubled to lead off the fourth, and following a free pass to Steagall, he crossed the plate on a throwing error. Steagall crossed the dish following a Martin single. Tim Webb (Delaware/Worthington Christian) and Martin scored on a Richardson double, making the score 6-2 in favor of the Beavers.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Beavers tacked on two crucial insurance runs following three scores by John Carroll in the top of the eighth frame. Stephenson doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and made it 7-5 on a Wright single. A Matt McKinney (Lima/Bath) double plated Wright for the final 8-5 count in Bluffton's first game of the afternoon.

Wright powered the offense with three hits and three runs scored. Stephenson and Martin added two hits apiece, while Richardson drove in a pair of runs. Martin also scored two runs for the Beavers.

Seven runs for the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the fourth followed by four more in the fifth proved too much to overcome as Baldwin-Wallace improved to 5-1 with its fifth straight victory after a season-opening loss.

Kelly Barnes (Toledo/Toledo Christian) fell to 0-1 on the season after allowing eight runs on six hits in 3+ innings on the hill. Freshman Brad Schlabach (Fredericksburg/Hiland) finished out the fourth frame before the Yellow Jackets added nine more scores over the final four innings.

The Beavers scored two runs in the second inning. Tyler Stephenson opened with a double, took third on a passed ball and crossed the plate on an Airic Steagall single. Tim Webb picked up Tyler Wright with a sacrifice fly to right for a 2-0 lead.

The Beavers scored one run in the third inning as Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) took advantage of three errors and a wild pitch.

Bluffton finished off its scoring in the top of the fifth inning with two runs. Kevin Martin walked, advanced to third on a Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) single and scored on a Broyles base hit. Niermann crossed the plate on a Wright single.

Stephenson and Steagall both went 2-of-4 to pace the Beaver offense.

Bluffton returns to action on Monday, March 5, when the Beavers face Coach Grandey's alma mater, Muskingum University, at 4:30 p.m.