By: Colton Steiner
BLUFFTON, Ohio - In the final game of a three-game series, the Bluffton Beavers would go up against the Earlham Quakers on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The Quakers would get hot out of the gate and wouldn't slow down as Bluffton was unable to answer, with the Beavers falling in seven innings, 15-2. Earlham would seal the weekend sweep, dropping Bluffton to 1-9 in conference play and 7-16 overall, while the Quakers improve to 14-8 on the season with a 9-1 mark in the HCAC.
After the visitors would get a run on the board in the first inning, they would add another four runs in the second to lead 5-0 heading into the third inning. Following back-to-back scoreless innings from both teams, Earlham would erupt for seven runs in the fifth to lead 12-0. There would be no action in the sixth, but after the Quakers added three in the seventh, they would extend their lead to 15-0. In the bottom of the inning, the bats would get going for the Beavers after a 2-run double to the gap in right from Brandon North (Hilliard, Ohio / Bradley) cut the Quaker lead to 15-2. Bluffton would be unable to get any more runs on the board as the run rule would end the game with Earlham knocking off the Beavers 15-2.
The offense was rolling for the Quakers as they would outhit the hosts 15-7, while also drawing eight walks and three hit by pitches. Six different batters would record hits for Bluffton, with Drew Snipes (Pickerington, Ohio / North) leading the Beavers going 2-for-4 on the day, while Brandon North would bat in both of Bluffton's runs.
Taking the loss on the mound was Matthew Becher (Fishers, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern), who drops to 0-2 on the season, finished the game allowing five runs off six hits, with four strikeouts in three innings of action. Jayce Emmitt (Columbus, Ind. / Columbus North) would have an efficient day on the mound on a day where the Bluffton bullpen struggled, throwing 1.2 innings and allowing no runs off two hits.
The Beavers will put this loss in their rearview mirror as they get set to play Ohio Northern on Monday, Apr. 6, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. Come out and support your Beavers!
-Beavers-
