RICHMOND, Ind. – Freshman Walter Talcott pitched a complete game shutout leading the Earlham College baseball team to a 6-0 victory at Bluffton in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) action on Tuesday.

Talcott, who improved to 4-0 on the season, allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out five in nine innings of work.

Earlham opened the scoring in the third as junior Nate Lynch singled home his 10th RBI scoring senior Ethan Bailey from second base. The Quakers added two more runs in the four when sophomore Joe Pipher hit his second home run of the season, a two-run shot scoring senior Brandon Smalling.

Trailing 3-0, the Beavers (5-12, 0-4 HCAC) got two runs on base in the fourth. Talcott ended the threat inducing a 5-4-3 double play.

The Quakers continued the offensive pressure in the fifth as junior Matt Barger doubled and Lynch was hit by a pitch. Senior Thomas Rea then delivered an RBI-single. A Bluffton error that followed allowed the fifth Earlham run to cross home plate.

Bluffton's best chance to score came in the sixth when the Beavers had runners at second and third with only one out. Talcott was up to the challenge once again, striking out a batter and forcing a lineout to center field ending the inning.

Earlham added the final run on a balk in the seventh.

Lynch, Smalling, and Barger finished with two hits. Pipher added one hit and two RBIs.

The complete game shutout win for Talcott was the first by an Earlham pitcher since Zach Lee's win over Hanover at McBride Stadium on April 27, 2013.

The Quakers improve to 12-4 on the season and 3-2 in HCAC play with the win. Earlham has a quick turnaround as it hosts Wilmington tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4:15 p.m. at Sadler Stadium.