By Mallory Kemper, sports information intern
The Bluffton University baseball fell twice to Transylvania University, 13-3 and 18-13, on Saturday, April 2, 2011, in Heartland Conference action. The Beavers slipped to 8-13 on the season and 0-6 in the HCAC, while Transylvania improved to 4-2 in the HCAC and 13-5 overall.
The Beavers started the first inning with a Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) double to right field. Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) stepped to the plate and singled to right, allowing Niermann to score. Transylvania responded in the home half with two runs of their own.
An inning later, the Pioneers opened with a Ryan Troehler single to left field. John Doering tripled to right, scoring Troehler. Senior Ben Kuebbing stepped to the plate and drilled a three-run homer for a 7-1 lead.
In the third inning Transylvania continued its onslaught, scoring five runs on five hits with a Ben Zuckerman home run to center field which plated three runs. Bluffton put up single runs in the fourth and fifth, but Transylvania held on for the 13-3 victory in game one of the afternoon. Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) picked up Broyles with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth and then Broyles drove in Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) with a ground-rule double a frame later.
Tyler Gibson (Sylvania/Southview) fell to 0-2 on the season, going just 2.1 innings and giving up 12 runs on 11 hits. Junior Pioneer pitcher Chris Bloch improved to 2-0 after allowing three runs on six hits in seven innings. Bloch fanned seven Beavers in his complete-game victory.
In the fourth inning of game two, Airic Steagall (Hillsboro) hit the first home run of his collegiate career, a two-run shot to right. David Ianiro (Highland Heights) stepped to the plate and singled before a Niermann double sent him home. The Beavers scored three runs on four hits to go up 4-1.
The Pioneers scored three runs in the fourth to keep the game interesting (4-4). In the bottom of the fifth inning, Kuebbing hit his third home run of the day. In the sixth Bluffton scored five times, with home runs from Broyles and Tim Webb (Delaware).
With Bluffton ahead 12-10 midway through the eighth frame, Transylvania mounted an eight-run rally to effectively put the game on ice as the Pioneers finished off the sweep with an 18-13 victory.
Airic Steagall went a perfect 4-of-4 at the plate, including his home run and two RBI. Nick Broyles went 3-of-4, scoring two runs and driving in three. Freshman catcher Tim Webb was 2-of-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Adrian Fritch (Edon) took his first loss of the season (0-1), tossing 0.2 innings, giving up five runs on four hits. Danny Niehaus improved to 1-2 on the year, throwing 3.1 innings in relief and giving up three runs, two earned.
The Beavers return to HCAC action on Tuesday, April 5, when they welcome Earlham College to Memorial Field. The first pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
