Written with assistance from Luke Parker, Manchester University sports information intern
NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – A Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference match-up between Manchester University and Bluffton University gave fans at Gratz Field a little bit of everything Saturday, April 2.
There was weather … and plenty of it as sun and cold were accompanied by high winds and driving snow showers that created three delays as part of a single, nine-inning contest that ran just over three and a half hours. Offense was also in high supply, as the Black and Gold, increasing their current league win string to four straight, launched eight extra base hits, including home runs from a trio featuring junior left fielder Chad Schultz (Fair Oaks, Ind.), junior first baseman Tailur Szarenski (Bluffton, Ind.) and senior catcher Elliott Ford (Rome City, Ind.), as part of a 16-run outburst. Pitching was also part of the equation that led to a 16-5 series-opening win for the home side, as sophomore starter Brandon Eck (Fort Wayne, Ind.) worked around a visiting uprising by BU that led to four runs on seven hits over five and two-thirds innings to gain his third win, and junior relief pitcher Corey Ferguson (Fort Wayne, Ind.) gave more highlights to a fast-improving bullpen allowing only one run on two hits over the final three and a third innings.
Schultz' bat led the charge for the Spartans. He lofted a deep home run over the right center field fence that zipped through the driving snow with a high southern wind behind it to go along with a double and triple in six at-bats. His efforts left him with six RBI at the end of the afternoon. Szarenski was also in the multiple-hit section, belting a drive that fell into the shrubs beyond the left field fence for his second round tripper in a five-day span, while Ford and sophomore designated hitter Alex Trzeciak (Charlotte, Ind.) ended with two hits apiece as well.
MU and BU are scheduled to resume their weekend set Sunday, April 3, with a pair of nine-inning contests set for a 12 p.m. start at Gratz Field.
NOTES: Schultz' totals, which featured the most RBI in a game for an MU player since last May, was part of recent meteoric rise for the junior. He's hitting .500 (eight-for-16) with eight RBI, six runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and a triple in the period … Senior shortstop Sean Knepper (Bremen, Ind.) upped his on-base stretch to 25 consecutive games due to three walks … The Spartans won for the 22nd time in the last 26 games against the Beavers.