The win was Bluffton’s first in the Heartland Conference this season as the Beavers are now 3-15 overall and 1-5 in the HCAC. Franklin is now 14-9 overall and 4-2 in the HCAC.
In the victory, freshman Kyle Alberson (Berne, Ind./South Adams) pitched all seven innings and scattered eight hits as the Bluffton defense turned three double-plays and didn’t commit an error. The win was Alberson’s first collegiate victory. Senior Luke Habegger (Berne, Ind./South Adams) doubled in a run and junior Brad Buckingham (Berne, Ind./South Adams) added an RBI single and made a sensational over-the-fence catch to rob Franklin of a homerun in the fourth inning.
Buckingham added two more hits in the nightcap and Bluffton out-hit Franklin 6-5, but the Grizzlies scored three runs in the second inning and held on for a 5-1 victory.
Bluffton travels to Earlham College (Indiana) for a double-header on Wednesday and will be at Manchester College (Indiana) on Friday and Saturday for a three-game series in the HCAC.
