Webb, Stevens hit home runs in 9-6 Baseball loss to Bluffton
By Tim Glon
ADA — Senior Nate Webb (Bath, Ind./Union County) and Logan Stevens (Plain City/Alder) each hit home runs as the Ohio Northern baseball team fell to area-rival Bluffton 9-6 on Thursday afternoon at Wander Field.
The Polar Bears fall to 12-7 overall while the Beavers improve to 8-7.
Stevens got Northern on the scoreboard quickly, hitting a one-out, solo home out in the bottom of the first inning.
Stevens started a third inning rally which saw ONU grow its lead to 3-0. His RBI single scored freshman Robbie Reed (Goshen, Ky./Trinity) to make it 2-0.
Senior Corey McMann (Flower Mound Tex./Liberty Christian) drove home sophomore Joey Kennedy (Sterling Heights, Mich./Foley Catholic) with an RBI ground out to give ONU a 3-0 lead.
McMann hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth to plate Reed and increase the lead to 4-0.
But the Beavers battled back, tying the game with four runs in the top of the sixth.
Webb led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to put the Polar Bears back on top 5-4.
Bluffton would answer with two runs in the top of the seventh and three more in the eighth to lead 9-5.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, ONU got a walk by Stevens, a single by sophomore Sam Sells (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) and a walk by senior Jacob Wenning (Coldwater) to lead the bases.
Webb singled home Stevens on an infield single to shortstop to make it 9-6, but BU was able to get the final out and hang on for the win.
Bluffton out-hit Ohio Northern 10-7.
The Polar Bears return to action on Saturday when they host No. 19 Marietta in a double header at Wander Field.
