By Cort Reynolds

COLUMBUS GROVE__The visiting Bluffton High School baseball team lost 8-2 to Northwest Conference foe Columbus Grove on a cool Thursday evening, May 8.

The Pirates fell behind 2-1 early. Grove then broke the game open by scoring six runs in the fourth frame. Bluffton added one tally in the sixth.

The Pirates fell to 8-11 overall and 1-5 in the NWC with the defeat. The Bulldogs improved to 10-9 overall and 4-3 in NWC play after the win.

Bluffton was out-hit by the Bulldogs, 7-3. Both teams committed two errors.

Pirate Blayne Hill doubled and scored a run. Nathan Speicher singled and scored the other run. He also stole two bases.

Luke Jebsen walked and stole a base.

Pirate senior Quinn Eachus suffered the pitching loss. He hurled three innings, allowing three hits and no earned runs. He walked two and struck out none.

Junior Robby Taylor hurled two innings of scoreless relief with one strikeout. He also hit a single.

Senior hurler Keaton Howbert gave up four earned runs and three walks with one hit.

Senior Landen Worcester added one inning of one-hit relief. He allowed no earned runs and three walks while whiffing one.

Bluffton’s cancelled game at Hardin Northern Wednesday was rescheduled for May 15.

        123     456     7       R       H       E
Bluf    010     001     0       2       3       2
CG      200     600     0       8       7       2

LP-Eachus
2B-Hill (B)