By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The host Buffton baseball team lost 18-3 to hard-hitting McComb Monday evening.
The Pirates fell to 0-3 with the defeat, while McComb improved to 1-1 with the five-inning, run-rule shortened victory.
The Panthers broke away from a 1-1 game with consecutive six-run frames in the second and third innings. McComb added five more runs in the top of the fourth to build an 18-2 cushion.
Bluffton plated single runs in the first, second and fourth innings.
Five different Panthers scored three runs apiece as McComb out-hit Bluffton, 15-2.
Freshman Kerry Wright slapped a double for the Pirates, while junior Nick Prater added a single for the other base hit. Freshman Gavin Bogart stole two bases, and Wright awiped one bag.
Wright, Bogart and Jaden Coonfare scored a run apiece for Bluffton. Adam Friedritz also drove in a run for the Pirates.
The Pirates left nine runners on base compared to seven by the Panthers.
123 456 7 R H E
McC 166 50x x 18 15 2
Blu 110 10x 0 3 2 1
WP- LP-Bogart (0-1)
2B-Wright (B)
Bluffton is scheduled to visit Carey (2-0) Tuesday, then the Pirates entertain USV March 31.
Carey swept Cory-Rawson 11-3 and 12-2 Saturday afternon. C-R then beat USV 15-4 Monday.
