BlueSox take 2nd straight with 7-4 win over Iron Bucks
After a 4-0 start to the season, the last three weeks have been a bumpy ride for the Butler BlueSox, who have struggled to consistently land in the win column.
Manager Dan Helgert was relieved with Thursday’s 7-4 Tri-State Collegiate baseball victory over the Butler Iron Bucks at Pullman Park, giving his team its first back-to-back wins since that fast start to the season.
“We’ve been sporadic and a lot of it is because our pitching has faltered in the later innings,” Helgert said. “Tonight, Alex (Haevner, starter) was a stud. He worked fast and was really good and we received some timely hits.”
Two of them came in the top of the seventh. The Sox had tied the game at three when Dustin Horn scored on an error and later in the frame, the team moved ahead for good. Seth Helgert singled in Justin Branigan and Joey Woodrow laced a two-run double that plated Zach Johnston and Helgert for a 6-3 edge.
The Sox (9-6) tallied just six hits in the game, but the crucial ones were a welcome sight for Helgert.
“We had been averaging 12 to 14 hits per game, then we had just three against DuBois (in a recent 2-0 loss). We’re still figuring things out with our lineup.”
Haevner worked six innings and, aside from three walks and a pair of singles, breezed through the first five while not allowing a run. The Bucks posted three runs against him in the sixth. Mattix Clement singled in Gino Scott, who had walked. Alex Colwell scored on a double steal and Clement later scored on an error to give the team a brief 3-2 lead, but the Sox scored four runs in the next half inning against reliever Sam Basso.
Haevner earned the win after allowing three runs on four hits.
Sam Ranallo started on the mound for the Bucks (9-8) and held the Sox scoreless before allowing an unearned run in the top of the fourth. He did not take the mound for the start of the fifth.
“He left the game with back problems,” said Bucks manager Len Piccini. “It was a little sore to start the game, but he didn’t think it would be a problem. But when he came off the field after the fourth, he was literally in tears, couldn’t even bend over.”
Helgert said his team is short on pitching.
“We lost three good college pitchers to injury before the season started,” he said. “Right now, we’re trying to figure out who to throw when. We actually have some starters working relief for us.”
Conor McSparran is one of them. He worked a scoreless ninth Thursday to earn a save. Carter Beneigh preceded him, working the seventh and eighth, allowing a run on two hits.
BlueSox 000 101 410 — 7 6 2
Iron Bucks 000 003 010 — 4 7 4
W: Alex Haevner 6 IP (5K, 5BB). L: Sam Basso 3 IP (3K, 3BB). S: Conor McSparran 1 IP (1K, 0BB).
BlueSox: Seth Helgert 1B 2B R RBI, Joey Woodrow 2B 2RBI, Trent Bielak 1B RBI, Justin Branigan R RBI
Iron Bucks: Mattix Clement 2-1B R RBI, Brady Gavula 1B RBI
