April 21, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant

Game 1 Stats  I  Game 2 Stats

HANOVER, Ind. -The Bluffton University baseball team hit the road to face off against the Hanover College Panthers in a conference doubleheader. It was a tough day for the Beaver offense as they dropped a 3-0 decision in the opener. A ninth-inning comeback in game two sealed the split as Bluffton now stands 16-13 overall and 5-7 in Heartland Conference play.

Hanover jumped on the board right out of the gate in the bottom of the first, scoring off a double down the left field line to go up 1-0. They weren't finished as a two-run single extended the lead to 3-0. The offense was unable to dent the scoreboard as Hanover made its first-inning runs hold up for a 3-0 victory in game one.

REID RUHL (Hamilton) led the Beavers with a pair of hits in the lidlifter. Adding a hit apiece were JACOB LATKOFSKY (Temperance, Mich./Ida), COLIN GREGORY (Fremont/Clyde) and RYAN GOLDEN (Findlay).

Taking the loss on the mound was COLBY CLIFTON (Ohio City/Crestview) who slipped to 2-3 on the year. The sophomore allowed two earned runs off six hits in 4.0 innings of work while tossing one strikeout and walking a batter. Junior DANTE D’ANDREA (Westerville/North) did not allow a hit in his 4.0 innings of scoreless relief.

The second game started with the Panthers taking an early 1-0 advantage following an RBI single in the second inning. Bluffton was unable to get any offense moving until Jacob Latkofsky scored on a Hanover error in the top of the ninth to even up the score 1-1. The Beavers continued their offensive outburst with a Ryan Golden RBI for a 2-1 lead. CHASE LAWNICZAK (Toledo/Whitmer) and REID MAUS (Hamilton/Badin) each drove in tallies as Bluffton opened a 4-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the side. JACK BONDY (Avon) and the defense did the rest as Bluffton notched a split despite going 17 straight innings without a run on Saturday afternoon.

The Beaver defense was perfect in the field, committing no errors, while the home team threw it away twice in the ninth inning. Leading the way was Reid Ruhl who went 2-for-4 with a run.

Picking up the win was Jack Bondy who moved to 3-2 on the season. Sophomore hurler TOMMY SIEMER (Liberty Township/Lakota East) did outstanding work in his 6.0 innings of work, allowing only one run off five hits. He checked in with five strikeouts and four walks in his 98 pitches.

Bluffton will look to pick up a pair of wins on Tuesday, April 24, when the Beavers welcome Anderson University for a mid-week doubleheader. The first pitch is set to be thrown at 1 p.m. so come out and support your Beavers as they kick off an eight-game homestand to wrap up the regular season!

-BEAVERS-