BLUFFTON, OHIO – Senior first baseman Tailur Szarenski (Bluffton, Ind.) doubled and drove in a run, while junior starting pitcher Taylor Kopplin (Westport, Ind.) turned in seven strong innings in route to his first win of the season to highlight a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Sunday, April 2.

The Spartans, clinching a conference weekend series win over the host Bluffton University Beavers, got out of the gate fast in the opener with three runs scoring over the first two frames. A run-scoring single from Szarenski was coupled with a second tally crossing on a passed in the first while freshman designated hitter Joe Gallatin (Muncie, Ind.) continued to impress at the plate with a second-inning sacrifice fly to chase home sophomore infielder Braxton Riley (Fort Wayne, Ind.).

Manchester University's quick start was enough for Kopplin who gave up only two hits over the first five innings. Senior bullpen standout Cory Ferguson (Fort Wayne, Ind.) proved strong again in the final two Bluffton at-bats moving around a run in the eighth and the tying run on in the ninth for his second save in as many games.

BU averted a sweep on its home Memorial Field in the series finale. A four-run third inning rally was more than enough for starting pitcher Jaylen Van Sossan who turned in a complete-game, four-hit shutout in the 6-0 decision.

The Black and Gold (7-12 overall, 4-4 HCAC) begin a stretch of four games in five days Tuesday, April 4, as Otterbein University out of the Ohio Athletic Conference is scheduled to visit Gratz Field for a 4:15 p.m. first pitch.