By Kyle Stover

The Bluffton University Beavers faced off with perennial powerhouse Heidelberg University in the Snowbird Baseball Classic on Saturday, March 9, taking a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning before eventually falling 7-2 to the Student Princes.

A two-run eighth and four-run ninth inning handed Bluffton just its third loss of the young season, giving the Beavers a tough end to what was a successful Florida trip.

Ben Roeschley (Graymont, Ill./Flanagan) gave Bluffton a superb start on the mound, going 7.2 innings and allowing just three runs while striking out five. Roeschley (1-1) got out of a few jams early in the game, giving the Beavers opportunities to build a lead, but still took the loss as Bluffton’s offense was unable to get things going against the Student Princes.

Todd Stover (Tipp City/Tippecanoe) and Brad Schlabach (Fredericksburg/Hiland) came on in relief for Roeschley, allowing four runs in their combined 1.1 innings of work.

Bluffton struck first, scoring in the second inning to take an early lead. A Greg Franks (Smithville) double followed by a Jake Townley (Mansfield/Madison) RBI single gave the Beavers a 1-0 lead. Heidelberg bounced back to tally a run of its own in the top of the third, tying the game at one.

The game would remain tied at one until the seventh inning when Bluffton was able to get things going again on offense. The inning began with a double by Tim Webb (Delaware/Worthington Christian).

Franks followed that up by reaching on an error by the third baseman with Webb advancing to third before Townley drove in another run, this time with a sacrifice fly to center field. That was all the Beavers were able to produce in the inning, going down in order after the sacrifice RBI by Townley.

Bluffton put runners into scoring position in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings, but were not able to cash in as Heidelberg pulled away for the victory.

A leadoff walk by Webb followed by a single from Franks in the bottom of the ninth gave the Beavers some life, but that was short-lived as Townley grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) led the Beaver offense, going 3-of-4 on the day, all singles. Townley drove in both runs for Bluffton.

Heidelberg improved to 6-1 on the year, while Bluffton fell to 7-3. The Beavers are back in action again on March 14 when they host Wilmington College in the home opener at Memorial Field. The contest with the Quakers is slated to start at 4:15 p.m.