By Mallory Kemper, sports information assistant
The Bluffton University baseball team traveled to Transylvania University to take on the Pioneers in a Heartland Conference matchup on Friday, April 1, 2011. The Beavers fell behind 12-0 after the second inning as Transylvania took game one of the HCAC series by a final score of 20-11.
In the second inning with the Pioneers already holding a 2-0 lead, Transylvania exploded for 10 runs on seven hits en route to a commanding 12-0 advantage. The visitors contributed to the scoring binge with two miscues and three walks as 16 Pioneers batted in the inning.
In the third inning the home team added four runs on two hits, taking a 16-1 lead over Bluffton.
The Beavers started to see some spark in the top of the fifth when Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) ripped a single to open the frame. Back-to-back doubles by Miles Richardson (Granville/Newark Catholic) and Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) kept the rally alive for sophomore Josh Mendoza (Gibsonburg/Fremont Ross) who launched a three-run homer to left field. The Beavers scored four runs on four hits to make the score 17-5.
The visitors scored four more runs in the seventh inning, three on a bases-clearing double by sophomore Tad Margolies (Toledo/Southview), and two runs in the eighth inning, but the early deficit proved to be too much as the Pioneers came away with a 20-11 victory.
Miles Richardson went 3-of-5 with three runs scored and Nick Broyles finished 2-of-4 with two RBI and two runs. Junior Ryan Leugers (Botkins) took the loss, going just 1.2 innings and allowing 11 runs, five earned, on five hits while falling to 2-3 on the season. Kelly Barnes (Toledo/Toledo Christian) kept the Beavers from using all their arms up in the first game of the series, fanning six in 5.2 innings of relief. Taylor Bugh improved to 4-0, tossing five innings and allowing five runs with seven strikeouts.
Bluffton continues HCAC action with Transylvania on Saturday, April 2. The first of two games with the Pioneers is slated for 12 p.m.
