FINDLAY, Ohio (WLIO) — Division V tournament baseball action featured a Northwest Conference battle Saturday as Liberty-Benton Eagles squared off against Bluffton Pirates.

Liberty-Benton wasted no time taking control in the bottom of the first inning with the bases loaded. Kooper Leatherman ripped a three-run double into the left-field gap to give the Eagles an early 3-0 lead.

A few batters later, Jackson Knepper added to the big inning with a ground ball down the left-field line that brought home two more runs. Liberty-Benton exploded for nine runs in the opening frame to build a commanding advantage.

Bluffton found a spark offensively in the second inning when Dylan Painter reached base with a single.

However, the Eagles continued to swing hot bats throughout the afternoon. Connor Barbara lined a sharp base hit into left field to drive in two more runs.

Liberty-Benton cruised to an 18-0 victory in five innings over Bluffton. The Eagles advance to the district semifinal where they await the winner of Fostoria versus Paulding.

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