Beavers rally for 9-6 win over ONU
ADA--The Bluffton University baseball team took advantage of a beautiful Thursday afternoon, making the short trip to Ohio Northern and coming away with a 9-6 win over the 12-7 Polar Bears. Bluffton improved to 8-7 on the season.
ONU scored a run in the first, two of the unearned variety in the third and added a sacrifice fly in the fifth on the way to a 4-0 lead heading to the sixth, but that's when the fun started. Senior Nick Diana (Batavia/West Clermont) cut the deficit in half when his two-bagger to left center drove home Justin Maurer (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) and Jack Towell (Batavia West Clermont). One out later, Diana and Ezra Deitering (Ottawa/Miller City) crossed the dish thanks to a Polar Bear error as the visitors knotted the score up at 4-4 with Evan Houseman (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) at the plate.
ONU led off the home sixth with a Nate Webb homer and had the bases juiced with just one out, but freshman Jordan Fent (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) came on and got a strikeout and flyout to end the frame.
CONTINUES
Towell answered with his game-tying bomb in the seventh and the Beavers made it 6-5 with an RBI single to right from Ayden Spriggs (North Lewisburg/Triad).
The floodgates opened an inning later when a wild pitch allowed Grant Hovest (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) to cross the dish. An RBI fielder's choice for Diana plated Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start) and Towell scored courtesy of another ONU miscue, putting the Beavers up 9-5.
Ohio Northern loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Darius Boeke (Sidney) came on and nailed down out number three for his second save of the season and a 9-6 Bluffton victory.
Towell went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Spriggs and Baumgartner added two safeties apiece. Maurer scored twice, while Diana drove in three runs.
Sophomore Nathan Young (Copley) turned in an outstanding first collegiate start, going five innings and allowing four runs, but just two earned, on three hits with five strikeouts. Fent picked up the win, also turning in a superb performance. He fanned five and gave up just one run in 3.1 innings on the hill. Boeke got the last out for save number two of the season.
Bluffton will be back in action on Saturday, April 1, when the Beavers head to rival Defiance College for the first of three games against the Yellow Jackets. Game one is slated to start at noon.
Stories Posted This Week
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
- Tornado Watch issued for Allen, Hancock, Hardin and Putnam counties at 9:15 p.m. on April 2
- Flood Warning issued for Allen County at 11:03 a.m.
- Pirate tennis loss at Elida
- Pirate softball loses opener to Ada
- Pirate baseball falls to Ada
- Allen County will not test warning sirens on April 2
- March 2025 land transfers in the Bluffton Exempted Village School District
- April 22 crash report shows driver hit N. Dixie home
- Bluffton High School Honor Roll announced for 3rd quarter of 2024-2025
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
- Obituary for Betty C. Mumaugh
- Leo Club supports Bluffton Clean Up
- Wind, rain and potential flooding for April 2
- Grandey to major in education, play basketball at John Carroll
- Pirate tennis blanks Bath
- Pirate baseball sweeps opening twin bill vs. Pandora-Gilboa
- “I Have Not Forsaken the Word of God” reader's theater, April 13
- Easter Cantata performed on April 13 in Pandora
Monday, March 31, 2025
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Saturday, March 29, 2025
- Bluffton Public Library’s April 2025 programs and services
- Joseph “Joe” Ropp Davies worked for University of Findlay
- Hillville Road bridge maintenance on April 1
- Lift access added to Bluffton Senior Center back entrance
- Register for fear of falling workshop
- Florence to explain advanced sports stats at student forum