By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton Pirate baseball team nipped visiting Northwest Conference foe Spencerville 4-3 Wednesday evening, May 14.

Bluffton scored two runs in the bottom of the first, but the Bearcats tied it 2-2 after two frames. The Pirates inched ahead with a run in the home third, yet the visitors tied it 3-3 in the fourth.

Bluffton pushed across the tiebreaking run in the bottom of the sixth to win it, 4-3.

The victory evened the Pirate overall season record at 11-11. Bluffton ended up 2-5 and seventh in the eight-team NWC standings. Spencerville fell to 9-9 and ended up 3-4 in the NWC after the defeat.

Lincolnview (6-0 NWC) has clinched the NWC title again, with Crestview second (5-2) and Columbus Grove third (4-3).

Keaton Howbert hurled four innings of one-hit baseball to earn the pitching win. He struck out one and walked none, and allowed no earned runs.

Robby Taylor also hurled 1.3 innings of shutout, one-hit ball. 

Luke Jebsen doubled home two runs and walked once. Landen Worcester walked and scored one run.

Taylor singled, drew a walk and scored a run. Nathan Speicher singled in a run and scored once. Blayne Hill walked twice and scored a run.

Quinn Eachus singled home one run, and Jake Weaver swatted a double. 

Evan Speicher added a single.

Bluffton out-hit Spencerville 6-4 and drew five walks.

The Pirates are slated to play at non-league foe Hardin Northern (14-4) Thursday. They host Leipsic (15-10) Friday.

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2B-Weaver (B), Jebsen (B)