By Mallory Kemper, sports information intern

The Bluffton University baseball team scored an impressive 29 runs in a doubleheader sweep of pre-season Heartland Conference favorite Franklin College on Sunday, April 17, 2011. The Beavers scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the first game 9-8 and won 20-13 in game two. Bluffton improved to 4-10 in the Heartland Conference and 12-17 overall. Franklin fell to 18-10 on the season and 8-6 in the HCAC.

In the third inning, Alex Boone hit an RBI single for the first run of the game. Sophomore Nick Stoia followed with a three-run homer to give the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead.

Two innings later, the Beavers responded with four runs of their own. With Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) at second base and Miles Richardson (Granville/Newark Catholic) at third, a wild pitch made the score 5-2. Tyler Wright (Troy) reached on an error by the defense which sent home Airic Steagall (Hillsboro) and Broyles for two runs. After the fifth inning the two teams were deadlocked at five runs apiece.

In the sixth inning, Franklin scored two runs thanks to doubles by Travis Lee and Matt Zmich. The Beavers scored one run in the sixth but were still down 8-6 going into the bottom of the seventh. Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) sent home Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) on an RBI single. Richardson knotted the game with a base knock before Broyles stepped to the plate and singled home Niermann with the game-winning run as the Beavers took game one, 9-8.

Miles Richardson went 3-of-5 at the plate, scored two runs and had one RBI. Nick Broyles finished with two hits, including the walk-off single. Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) added two hits.

Freshman Ben Roeschley (Graymont/IL/Flanagan) picked up the win, improving to 2-0 after tossing 2.0 innings. He gave up two hits and no runs.

In the second game, Bluffton scored in every inning except the second and eighth, taking a 20-13 victory over the Grizzlies.

In the third inning, the Beavers scored four runs on seven hits with doubles by Richardson and Stephenson. In the fifth inning, back-to-back singles by Tim Webb (Delaware) and Trainer ignited the Bluffton offense. Richardson singled to center field, scoring Niermann. Junior third baseman Tyler Stephenson stepped to the plate and hit three-run dinger, giving Bluffton a 13-4 lead going into the sixth.

Bluffton tacked on four more runs in the sixth inning with a Niermann double which scored two runs and a Wright single that added another tally.

The Grizzlies scored six runs on four hits in the seventh thanks to doubles by Jesse Wilson and Ian Sanders, but it wasn't enough as the Beavers piled up 26 hits in a 20-13 victory over Franklin.

Tyler Gibson (Sylvania/Southview) (1-3) picked up his first victory, giving up three hits and two runs in 1.2 innings of work. Shawn Mattingly fell to 3-3 after going just 3.0 innings and allowing nine hits and five runs.

Kyle Niermann had another outstanding game, going 4-of-6 at the plate. He scored five runs and tallied three RBI. Miles Richardson also went 4-of-6 with three runs and three RBI. Tyler Stephenson added four hits and six RBI for Bluffton. Broyles, Wright and Trainer all finished with three safeties. Broyles and Wright both picked up two RBI and Broyles scored three times. Steagall, Stephenson, Trainer and Kevin Martin (Bryan) all crossed the dish twice in the victory.

The Beavers return to HCAC action on Tuesday, April 19, when they travel to long-time rival Defiance College. The first pitch is slated for 4 p.m.