May 1, 2015
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Bluffton University baseball team traveled to Kentucky to take on the Transylvania Pioneers in the opener of a three-game series. The Beavers fell in a 12-inning heartbreaker, as they lost by a final score of 3-2. The Beavers slipped to 20-18 overall and 13-12 in the HCAC. The loss also knocks Bluffton out of contention for the HCAC tournament. The victory helped the Pioneers improve to 13-23 and 9-15 in the HCAC.
The home team jumped on top with a quick 2-0 start as Transylvania plated two runs in the first inning. The Beavers answered back with two runs of their own in the second. JEFF ROTH (Bellevue) drove in Bluffton’s first run of the game with an RBI single that plated TYLER SPALDING (Willis Mich./Lincoln). The Beavers evened up the score on a CLAYTON SIDERS (Delaware/Worthington Christian) base knock to center that scored Cody Lehman (Hamilton).
The next nine innings belonged to the pitchers as neither team could break the tie. In the bottom of the 12th. the home team finally broke though with an RBI single off the bat of Hunter Jones for the 3-2 victory.
Starting on the mound for the Beavers was senior NATE SIMONDS (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) who went 6.1 innings. Simonds allowed six hits, six walks, and just two runs. Taking the loss for Bluffton was COREY JOHNSON (Waverly), who went 1.1 innings and allowed the final run of the game. Johnson struck out a batter and walked one while allowing three hits.
The Beaver offense was led by Tyler Spalding and Clayton Siders who each went 2-for-4 for the day. LUKE HICKEY (Toledo/Whitmer), Jeff Roth and Cody Lehman each collected a hit for Bluffton.
The Beavers will look to bounce back Saturday as they face the Pioneers in a doubleheader that kicks off at 12 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
