Bluffton Clips Baseball in the Ninth

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The Mitchell College baseball team finished on the losing end of a 3-2 final against Bluffton University on Monday afternoon at the Snowbird Classic.

The Beavers broke a 2-2 deadlock with a run in the top of the ninth. The Mariners put the tying run at third with two outs in the home half but failed to bring it around.

Mitchell trailed by one early but countered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The first run scored on a Bluffton throwing error while the second came courtesy of an RBI single by Garet Griffin.

The Mariners carried the 2-1 lead through the next five innings as starting pitcher Bryton Ferris turned in a gem. The Beavers finally tied the game in the seventh on a triple and sacrifice fly, but Ferris worked out of trouble and stranded two runners in the frame.

Jakari Pellegrini took the mound for Mitchell in the ninth and promptly secured the first two outs. He then issued a walk and allowed a single, and the Beavers plated the go-ahead run on a throwing error.

Jack Finnegan singled to lead off the Mitchell ninth, and he moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Steven Gonzalez. The Mariners had two cracks at tying the game, but consecutive ground outs only moved the runner to third before the final out was tallied.

Griffin finished with two of Mitchell's five hits in the contest. Ferris lasted 8.0 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out four.

Mitchell (3-3 overall) will next play a doubleheader against St. John's University (Minn.) at the Cusic Classic on Tuesday, March 7 at 9 a.m.