Sophomore Jordan Bostater's first career homerun lifts Baseball past Bluffton 16-2
By Caleb Scott
BLUFFTON -- Sophomore Jordan Bostater recorded his first career home run to lead the Ohio Northern baseball team to a 16-2 victory over Bluffton University Wednesday evening at Memorial Field.
The Polar Bears improve to 7-4 on the season, while the Beavers fall to 4-6.
Northern recorded a season-high 18 hits on the afternoon as nine different players recorded a hit.
ONU was led offensively by senior Andy Lubonovic as he went 2-for-3 on the day and recorded two RBIs and three runs scored.
Bostater got the Polar Bears on the board early in the first inning as he blasted a 2-run homerun over the center field fence and plated sophomore Dan McMullen to put Northern ahead 2-0.
Northern would open up the game in the top of the second inning as senior Clay Small and sophomores Hayden Shenefield and Brandon Kasberg scored to put Northern ahead 5-0.
The Polar Bears added three more runs in the fourth inning to expand their lead.
Small would double and advance to third base before freshman Adam Wilson hit an RBI single to drive Small home.
After Northern loaded the bases, McMullen was able to plate Wilson and extend the Polar Bear lead.
Lubonovic would finish the scoring in the fourth inning as he scored on the passed ball and gave Northern the 8-0 lead.
Ohio Northern continued adding runs in the fifth inning as senior Nick Eltzroth would hit an RBI double and score Lubonovic to put Northern ahead 9-0.
On the ensuing at bat McMullen would plate Eltzroth with an RBI double and push the lead to 10-0.
Bluffton would narrow the Polar Bears lead in the bottom of the sixth inning as they scored two runs to pull within 10-2.
In the top of the eighth inning, Northern would add three more runs as Lubonovic, sophomore Braydon Focht and Bostater all scored to push the Ohio Northern lead to 13-2.
A three run inning in the top of the ninth sealed the 16-2 victory for the Polar Bears.
After Small singled, sophomore Jason Burkett was walked and sophomore Dan Barna singled, Eltzroth would hit an RBI single to drive home Small.
Senior Cody Meyer would reach on a fielders choice on the following at bat and bring home Burkett.
The Polar Bears would seal the deal as Bostater hit an RBI single and brought home Barna to give Northern the 16-2 victory.
Senior Ben Glischinski earned the victory for ONU and struck out a career-high 10 batters, while improving his record to 2-1.
Northern will return to action Saturday as they return home to host Trine (Ind.) in a double header with game one scheduled for 1 pm.