Baseball team comes up just short against Bluffton, 2-1

BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Olivet College baseball team left the tying run stranded in the ninth inning, as Bluffton (Ohio) University held on to beat the Comets, 2-1, this afternoon at Memorial Field.

Final Score: Bluffton 2, Olivet 1
Location: Memorial Field; Bluffton, Ohio
Records: Olivet 5-9 overall, Bluffton 6-7 overall

• In the bottom of first, the Beavers had the bases loaded before two strikeouts ended the inning.
• The Beavers hit two doubles in the third inning to push across their first run.
• With runners on second and third, Bluffton used a double steal to plate a run in the sixth inning.
• The Comets scored their lone run in the seventh inning. After getting runners on the corner bases, both runners moved up one base on a balk.
• In the eighth inning, the Beavers did not need a hit to fill the bases. A called third strike for a strikeout brought the inning to a conclusion.
• In the ninth inning, freshman Blake Hawkins drew a leadoff walk. He stole second before a sacrifice bunt by junior Tyler Campbell advanced him to third base. After the second out was recorded, sophomore Matthew Fennell walked to put two runners on base. A strikeout ended the game.

• Olivet finished the game with five hits.
• Senior Trevor Savage went 2-for-4, with two singles and scored the lone run.
• Other hits were by Campbell, junior James Harris and sophomore Gabriel Kirck.
• Senior Max Daust was tagged with the pitching loss after giving up the first one run on six hits over the first four innings.
• Sophomore Keegan Kuha tossed two innings of relief and allowed a run on one hit.
• Senior Hunter Henson also threw two innings in relief and did not yield a hit.

• The Beavers tallied seven hits, including two doubles.
• Jack Towell had two hits and scored a run.
• Also recording hits were Jake Baumgartner, Dylan Gray, Grant Hovest, Kenny Schneider and Adam Yoh.
• Jacob Boelkens started on the mound and threw the first seven innings to earn the win.
• Garrett O'Reilly pitched the ninth inning to pick-up the save.

• Olivet opens Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play this weekend with a three-game series against Trine (Ind.) University. On Saturday, the teams play a doubleheader at Jannen Field in Angola, Indiana. On Saturday, one game is scheduled at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. Game time both days is 1 p.m.