BLUFFTON, OHIO – A wild game one comeback for visiting Manchester University helped the two-time defending Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference champions garner a split Saturday, April 11.

The Spartans (14-9 overall, 7-6 HCAC) found themselves trailing the host Bluffton University Beavers (16-10 overall, 9-5, HCAC) 11-2 after four frames in the opener at BU's Emory Sears Outdoor Complex. However, MU tallied three scores over the sixth and seventh to whittle the deficit to 11-6 and then exploded in the top of the eighth, tallying seven runs. Senior shortstop Trevor Kimm (Anderson, Ind.) belted a two-run home run; senior third baseman Jordan Nieman (Michigan City, Ind.) drilled a run-scoring triple, and junior catcher Elliot Ford (Rome City, Ind.) knocked in the tying and lead runs with a single to spotlight the attack. After the hosts rallied right back with a single run in the home half of the frame, Kimm stepped back up to the dish in the top of the ninth and pounded a lead-off home run to supply the winning score in a 13-12 final.

Three-RBI efforts from Kimm, Ford and sophomore designated hitter Chad Schultz (Fair Oaks, Ind.) helped fresman relief pitcher Taylor Kopplin (Westport, Ind.) increase his record to 2-1. Kopplin blanked the home team on two hits and struck out two during his work over the eighth and ninth innings.

BU came back in the nightcap to claim a 14-4 win. After the Beavers got to sophomore starting pitcher Corey Ferguson (Fort Wayne, Ind.) for six runs on seven hits over an inning and a third, the Spartans put their rally caps on again. Run-scoring singles from Nieman, sophomore first baseman Tailur Szarenski (Bluffton, Ind.) and senior outfielder Justin Miller (Yorktown, Ind.) cut the deficit to 7-3 in the fourth, but the home team answered with seven scores over their final three at-bats to ice the win.

The Black and Gold close out their weekend set at Bluffton University Sunday, April 12. A single nine-inning game is set for a 12 p.m. first pitch.

NOTES: Nieman's long on-base and hit streaks continued to compile during the afternoon. He clouted hits and reached base in both ends of the doubleheader to extend both to 26 straight contests … Szarenski upped his on-base skein to 27 straight outings, while senior outfielder Kyle Norris (Indianapolis, Ind.) moved his to 19 … The split left the Black and Gold sitting fifth on the league standings, just a game behind the top four and two games behind first-place Earlham College.