Box Score NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Manchester University baseball team slugged three home runs on a windy day at Gratz Field in its 11-8 victory over the Bluffton University Beavers on Wednesday, March 24.
The Black & Gold hit a pair of homers as part of a 5-run 3rd inning. Senior Joe Henschel (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll) opened the scoring for Manchester with a long ball over the wall in right center. It was Henschel's fourth home run of the season. A few batters later, sophomore Brady Perez (Rochester, Ind./Rochester) hit a 2-run home run to left center to put the Spartans ahead 3-1.
Michael Pinarski (Goshen, Ind./Goshen) and Brett Kron (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) would double and single home a run, respectively, to cap the 5-run 3rd inning.
Manchester continued to see the ball well offensively as it added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 4th.
Bluffton responded with a pair of runs in the 6th inning. However, Michael Pinarski provided an insurance run in the home half of the frame with a solo shot to left.
The Spartans added three more runs in the bottom of the 7th inning and junior Austin Kresl (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) closed the door in the 9th inning to secure the victory. Kresl picked up his first career collegiate save on Wednesday.
The Spartans racked up 14 hits against the Beavers on Wednesday. Both Brett Kron and Alex Morr (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) collected three hits, while Michael Pinarski, Joe Henschel, and Jacob Van Pelt (Parker City, Ind./Delta) each had two hits apiece.
Brady Perez led the Black & Gold with 3 RBI, while Van Pelt, Pinarski, and Kron all drove in a pair of runs.
Jacob Van Pelt pitched five innings, giving up four runs while striking out five en route to his second win of the season.
Manchester improved to 4-7 on the season. The Spartans will host Rose-Hulman on Saturday, March 27. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.
