By Cort Reynolds

DOLA__The visiting Bluffton High School baseball team rallied late but came up short 6-4 to tough non-conference foe Hardin Northern on a hot Thursday evening, May 15.

The Pirates fell behind 5-0 early. Each team plated a run in the fifth to maintain the HN lead at 6-1. Bluffton came back to tally three runs in the top of the seventh, but their final at-bat rally came up short.

The Pirates dropped to 11-12 overall with the defeat. The Polar Bears improved to 15-4-1 after the victory.

Nathan Speicher hit two singles and drove in a run for the Pirates. Jake Weaver and William Hoover each stroked an RBI single. Landen Worcester swatted a double and scored a run. Quinn Eachus singled and scored a run.

Dylan Bacon secured the win on the mound for the Polar Bears. He aided his cause at the plate with a double, two singles, and one RBI. 

Xander Wilson earned the save, and also hit an RBI single. Wyatt Pore drove in two runs with a single.

Bluffton was out-hit by the Polar Bears 9-8 and drew three walks. 

Pirate Robby Taylor pitched four innings of solid relief. He allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out five. Taylor also singled.

Jake Weaver started and gave up three earned runs on four hits and three walks over two innings. He struck out two Bears.

The Pirates host Leipsic (15-10) Friday at 5 p.m.

123 456 7 R H E

Bluf 000 010 3 4 8 3

HN 113 010 x 6 9 2

WP-D. Bacon LP-Weaver Save-Wilson

2B-Bacon (HN), Worcester (B)