Fort Myers, Fla. – The Bluffton University baseball team fell to Muskingum, 16-2, on day five of the Gene Classic. The Beavers dropped to 1-6 on the season while Muskies improved to 5-2.
A Dylan Gray (Hilliard/Hilliard Bradley) shot over the right field fence gave Bluffton a 1-0 lead early in the second. Muskingum tallied up four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 lead. A Jack Towell (Batavia/West Clermont) double would plate Grant Hovest (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) in the fourth (4-2) but an all-around struggle from the Beavers would allow the Muskies to cross the dish twelve times unanswered to secure the 16-2 victory.
Starting on the mound for Bluffton and tallying the loss was Wyatt Groves (Marengo/Highland) with three innings and five punchouts. Spencer Garrison (West Salem/Northwestern) took over in the fourth, throwing three innings of three strikeout relief. Seth Evans (Ada/OSU-Lima), Sam Meek (Hope, IN/Hauser), and Reid Whitney (Harrison) would all also see a turn on the bump. Leading the Beaver offense was Hovest, hitting 2-for-4. Towell, Gray, and Nathaniel DeWeese (Columbus/Hilliard Davidson) would all crack one hit apiece.
The Beavers are back in action on March 11th, when they face Alvernia College. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at the Player Development Center. Go Beavers!