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.