The Bluffton University baseball team fell to Thomas More twice on Saturday, March 19, 17-3 and 6-4. With the two losses, the Beavers dropped to 6-7 on the season while the Saints stayed perfect at 9-0.

The Saints plated four runs in the first inning, six in the third, one in the top of the fourth, four more in the fifth, and finally two in the sixth frame for a 14-run difference in the Thomas More victory.

Kelly Barnes (Toledo/Toledo Christian) fell to 2-1 on the season as struck out one batter and walked four in the loss. Tyler Gibson (Sylvania/Southview) allowed eight runs in two innings of relief before Mark Hadaya (Beavercreek) closed out the first game for the Beavers by striking out four batters over the final three frames.

Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) and Anthony Cianci (Ravenna/Southeast) both drove in runs for the home team.

Thomas More started game two much like they did the first contest, generating three runs in the opening stanza. In the bottom of the second, Tyler Wright (Troy) crossed the plate following a Josh Mendoza (Gibsonburg/Fremont Ross) sacrifice fly.

Freshman Airic Steagall (Hillsboro) sent Wright home in the fourth, cutting the deficit to two, 4-2. Responding to a Saint tally in the top of the fifth, the Bluffton offense tied up the game at four when junior Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) launched a two-run shot down the right field line.

However, the tie was short lived as Thomas More produced one run each in the sixth and seventh innings to pick up its ninth win on the 2011 season. Jordan Kruse (Napoleon) took the loss, walking five batters and fanning three in 5.2 innings on the hill. Senior closer Adrian Fritch (Edon) finished the game, allowing one run on three hits with a strikeout.

Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) and Kyle Trainer both smacked two safeties for the Beavers. Broyles drove in two with his home run and Wright scored twice.

The Bluffton University baseball team will travel to Ohio Northern University on Wednesday, March 23. The battle between the Polar Bears and the Beavers is slated for 4 p.m.