By: Colton Steiner

AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Bluffton Beavers finished up their roadtrip to Florida as they faced off against the Trine Thunder in a battle where the Beavers got hot at the plate. After falling behind, Bluffton immediately tied things up as they cruised to an 8-4 win over the Thunder as they improved to 3-6 on the season. 

Trine would score a pair in the second inning, but an RBI single from Tyler Forest (Harrison, Ohio / LaSalle) and a wild pitch that scored Forest, evened things up 2-2. Following three scoreless frames, the Beavers would get a two-run double from Carsen Riddle (Troy) that found the gap in left center as they jumped ahead to a 4-2 lead. Bluffton would get another run from Travis Rooney (Thompson, Pa. / Susquehanna), who pinch hit and smacked an RBI single to bring home Ayden Spriggs (North Lewisburg, Ohio / Triad), putting the Beavers up 5-2. Trine would score a pair in the eighth but RBI singles from Carsen Riddle, Ayden Spriggs, and Xander Greulich (Pemberville, Ohio / Eastwood) increased Bluffton's lead to 8-4. While the Thunder were able to get a runnner on base following a single, back-to-back flyouts ended the contest as the Beavers sealed the win, 8-4. 

The bats were hot for Bluffton as they finished the game outhitting Trine 14-7. Leading the way at the plate was Carsen Riddle, who finished the game going 3-for-4, including a double, and brought home three runs and scored twice. Also smacking three hits a piece was Ayden Spriggs and Xander Greulich, while Tyler Forest and Nathan Rorick (Dublin) each recorded two runs and two hits apiece. 

Picking up his first collegiate win of his career was Noah Davis (Cincinnati, Ohio / Norwood), who improves to 1-0 after pitching six innings, allowing just two runs off four hits and tallying six strikeouts to only one walk. Jack Hardesty (Akron, Ohio / Hoban) would collect his first save of the season after going three innings of relief and fanning four batters, while only allowing two runs off three hits. 

The Beavers will return to Ohio and will be off a week until they compete in a double-header against Capital and Chatham on Saturday, Mar. 14, starting at 10:30 a.m.

-Beavers-