Beavers Secure Win Over Greenville

Blackburn Baseball took a win over Greenville University on Tuesday afternoon. The Beavers secured the win in what was technically game three of the series, although the game was a single nine inning contest. Due to weather, the series against Greenville had been cancelled and rescheduled multiple times. This afternoon, Blackburn won by a final score of 7-3.

Greenville scored in the top of the first, as the leadoff batter was hit by a pitch, followed by a SAC bunt. After another hit batter, Greenville had runners on second and third from a double steal. They scored one run in the inning from a SAC fly.

Blackburn quickly evened the score in the bottom of the first. Adam Holm led off with a bunt single, and after being advanced to second, Andrew Garza was hit by a pitch. Zach Knox drew a walk, and the bases were loaded. Isaac Gleaves was able to work the count to his favor and also drew a walk, scoring Holm.

The Beavers hit the throttle in the bottom of the second. After a groundout, Aidan Hamerlinck was hit by a pitch. Adam Holm followed this with a single, advancing Hamerlinck to third. Mitchell Binder singled to right field, scoring Hamerlinck. With runners on first and second, Pedro Medina singled to left, scoring Holm.  An error from Greenville allowed Andrew Garza to collect an RBI, as Medina scored from first on a throwing error. Blackburn was leading 4-1 at the end of the second.

Andrew Lozano added to the scoring in the bottom of the third, when he hit a solo home run over the right field wall. Pedro Medina doubled in the bottom of the fifth, which eventually led to him scoring another run for Blackburn off a balk from Greenville.

The strong pitching of Ryne Hanslow kept Greenville off the board. He allowed just two runs in his start, lasting five innings. Greenville plated their second run in the top of the sixth, as they had back-to-back hits to the outfield gaps.

Neither team scored in the seventh inning, but Blackburn was able to add some insurance in the bottom of the eighth. After Ashton Harvey was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Aidan Hamerlinck bunted him to second, which was followed by yet another hit from Adam Holm, scoring Harvey. Holm finished the day going 4-5 at the plate.

Greenville managed to plate a run in the top of the ninth, but Mitchell Binder shut down the Panthers on the mound. He forced three groundouts to end the game.

Ryne Hanslow earned the win on the mound, making his overall record 2-1. Adam Holm led the Beavers on offense, collecting four hits in five at bats.

The Beavers have a brief break in their schedule before conference play continues Thursday. Blackburn will travel to Fontbonne to face the Griffins in a single nine inning game, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m.