The Bluffton University baseball team fell to Heartland Conference rival Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 4-1, on Saturday, April 9. With the loss, the Beavers dropped to 9-14 overall with a 1-7 mark in the HCAC. The Engineers improved to 15-8 with a 5-3 conference record.
In the top of the first, the Engineers took advantage of an early error to generate two runs when Derek Dauenbaugh doubled home Bobby Newman and Donald Stopka for a 2-0 lead.
After a solo homer by Andrew Benitez in the third, the Beavers stepped up to the plate and responded with a tally of their own in the bottom of the frame. Back-to-back singles from Airic Steagall (Hillsboro) and Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) put runners on first and second.
Sophomore Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) plated Steagall with a base hit to left for Bluffton's only tally in the 4-1 setback.
Ryan Leugers (Botkins) was superb in his nine-inning complete game, allowing four runs, just two earned, on six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Jim Bob Schuler was also outstanding in improving to 5-0 on the season. He fanned 10 and gave up only one run on five hits with a walk.
Bluffton will be back in action on Sunday, April 10, when the Beavers host Rose-Hulman in a doubleheader at Memorial Field. The first game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
