By: Joseph Watkins, sports information assistant
FORT MYERS, Fla - The Bluffton University baseball team knocked off Thiel 11-8 on Thursday, March 7, in their seventh game of the Gene Cusic Classic. Bluffton improved to 3-4 on the season, while Thiel stands at 2-3.
In the bottom of the first inning a Reid Ruhl (Hamilton) single to center field would get what would be a big inning for the Beavers. Jacob Latkofsky (Temperance, MI/Ida) would single up the middle that would plate two for Bluffton making the score 2-0. But that would not be it for the innning, a Lenny Winiarski (Cincinnati/LaSalle) SAC fly would allow for Latkofsky to score and make the score 3-2 after one in favor of the Beavers.
Bluffton would put up another three spot on Thiel in the bottom of the fourth. A single to center field by freshman Jeff Strayer (Columbus/Thomas Worthington) would get things started. Jaxon Rogan (Marysville) would than lay down bunt and Strayer would advance all the way home on a throwng error by Thiel. A Colin Gregory (Fremont/Clyde) triple to left center would allow for Ruhl and Rogan to score giving Gregory two RBI.
The Beavers would have one more three run inning that came in bottom of the seventh. Back to back hits to begin the inning would allow for Rogan to get an RBI on a single down the right side that would score Strayer. Later in the inning, a Parker Reynolds (Avon) double down the left field line would allow for Rogan and Cale Sherbourne (Johnstown/Big Walnut) to score making the score 11-8 in favor of the Beavers.
Gregory went 3-of-4 with three RBI, Strayer went 3-of-5 and Rogan 3-of-3 with one RBI for the Beavers in the victory.
A plethora of Beavers would see the pitching mound today giving up a total of eight runs on eleven hits. Senior Jordan Stutzman (Millersburg/West Holmes) would come out with the win on the day making him (1-0) on the season. Senior Dante D'Andrea would tally the save for the Beavers going 2.0 innings giving up just one hit and strukc out two.
Bluffton is back in action on Friday, March 8, when the Beavers will take on Baruch in a double header. Game one will start at 3 p.m. and game two will follow at approximately 6 p.m.
-BEAVERS-