By Sam Brauen www.blufftonpirates.com
(BLUFFTON) - Columbus Grove’s jumped on Bluffton’s baseball team early and held on for a 5-3 Northwest Conference victory Monday.  The loss sends Bluffton to 3-7 overall and 1-4 in NWC play. 

The Bulldogs put up two runs in the top of the first inning as they staked a lead they would not relinquish.  Bluffton starting pitcher Dakota Bricker settled in for the next few innings before Grove plated two more in the fourth to break a 2-2 tie.

The game featured plenty of hits (17 total) and errors (8).  Five of the miscues belonged to the home team leading to five unearned runs. Cayden Rayle picked up three hits and knocked in one run. Bricker was 2/4 with an RBI and a run scored as well.  Brady Romick, Brice Rayle, Aaron Belcher and Evan Mayden had a hit each as the Pirates out hit Columbus Grove 9-8.   

Bricker took the loss and pitched six innings giving up 8 hits.  Belcher pitched the seventh allowing no hits, no walks and no runs.