By: Colton Steiner

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton Beavers went head-to-head with Wittenberg University in a chilly Wednesday afternoon contest. After holding off the Tiger offense in the first two innings, the Beavers were unable to keep them quiet as they struggled to produce offensively in a 9-0 shutout at the hands of the visitors. The loss dropped Bluffton to 5-19 on the season while Wittenberg improved to 17-5 overall.

Graduate student Jack Towell (Batavia/West Clermont) knocked a double to left center in the bottom of the first, but the Beavers were unable to pick him up as the first two innings would stay deadlocked at 0-0. The Tigers were able to get some offense going in the top of the third when a three-run double put them on the board before a groundout made the score 4-0 in favor of the visitors.

The Bluffton offense was stagnant the rest of the afternoon, only producing two more hits while Wittenberg was able to add three runs in the seventh, followed by a pair of tallies in the ninth on the way to handing the Beavers a 9-0 loss.

Bluffton was outhit 9-3 with Jack Towell, Ayden Spriggs (North Lewisburg/Triad) and Brandon North (Hilliard/Bradley) picking up the only safeties for the Beavers. While they were able to draw five walks, they were unable to bring home a run, leaving seven runners on base.

Wyatt Groves (Marengo/Highland) took the loss on the hill, falling to 0-5 on the year after going three innings and allowing four runs off two hits, while striking out two. Brent Mitosinka (Ida, Mich.) fanned three batters in two innings of work while allowing two runs on a pair of hits.

The Beavers will put this loss in their rearview mirror as they prepare to face Rose-Hulman in a Heartland Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 12, with first pitch being thrown at noon.

-BEAVERS-