BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Manchester baseball team kicked off a busy final weekend of the regular season with a road doubleheader at Bluffton University in Ohio.

The Spartans and Beavers played to a split. Strong pitching from Manchester in the opener propelled the Spartans to a 5-2 victory in Game 2. The host Beavers rallied late in Game 2 to steal a 6-5 victory.

Game 1 Manchester def. Bluffton 5-2 – Box Score

Game 2 Bluffton def. Manchester 6-5 – Box Score

How It Happened:

* Manchester starter Carter Hooks (Rochester, Ind./Rochester) kept the Bluffton bats at bay in the opener. Hooks was terrific, tossing a complete game. He allowed just a pair of runs in the 7^th inning and surrendered just 4 hits. He struck out a career-high 11 batters.
* Manchester opened Game 1 on Friday with a pair of runs in the top of the 1^st inning. An error in the Bluffton outfield allowed a pair of Spartans to score.
* After Bluffton tied the game at 2 in the 7^th, the Spartans responded with 3 runs in the top of the 8^th inning. A wild pitch and a pair of sac flies allowed Manchester to regain the lead for good.
* Game 2 got off to a flying start for the Black & Gold who plated 4 runs in the opening frame.
* Joe Henschel (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll) opened the scoring with a run scoring triple. After an RBI groundout by Zach White (Logansport, Ind./Logansport), Austin Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas/Athens Christian (Ga.)) and Aidan Stevens (Rensselaer, Ind./Rensselaer Central) followed with an RBI triple and RBI double.
* Following a mild rain delay, Bluffton managed to rally past the Spartans after plating 4 runs in the bottom of the 8^th inning.
* Manchester starter CJ Williams (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights) threw 7.2 innings and allowed 4 runs. He matched a career-best 9 strikeouts.

Up Next:

* Manchester will host Earlham College to close out the regular season on Saturday, May 8 at Gratz Field. Saturday's contests were originally scheduled for Sunday, May 9.
* Tomorrow's doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. It will also be Senior Day.