March 6, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Bluffton University softball squad took to the field for a matchup against Thiel College in their fifth game of the week. The first contest of the day was a game of runs and despite coming back from 10-0 and 11-4 deficits to tie the game up in the seventh inning, the Tomcats would march on with an 18-11 win. The Beavers were unfazed and they evened their mark for the day with a 4-1 win over the Widener University Pride, improving to 2-4 to start the season.
A leadoff inside the park home run by LEAH WOYTEK put the Tomcats up right away and two more scores in the first inning helped Thiel to a quick 3-0 lead. After scoreless frames in the second and third, the Tomcats exploded for five tallies in the fourth inning to jump ahead 8-0.
Two more Thiel runs in the top of the fifth made it 10-0, but the Beavers would finally get some offense going after MAKENZIE SCHMIDT (Caledonia/River Valley) smoked a two-bagger to left center which scored MEGAN HILL (Arcadia) from second. Bluffton was just getting started as BRITTANY HUFF(Clayton/Northmont) crushed a three-run bomb to right center that made the score 10-4 in favor of Thiel.
A run in the top of the seventh put the Tomcats up 11-4, but the Beavers would take over in the bottom of the inning. COURTNEY JASINSKI(Edgewood/Northmont) got the ball rolling with an RBI single that scored Makenzie Schmidt. A two-run double by JESSIE MADZIA (Massillon/Tuslaw) made it 11-7 before a wild pitch scored Jasinski. Bluffton would add another run thanks to a base knock by CHELSEA ZOLTOWSKI (Sylvania/Southview). A Megan Hill RBI single followed by Makenzie Schmidt's run-scoring double evened it up at 11 and forced the game into extras.
The Tomcats were not impressed as they answered back with seven runs in the top of the eighth for an 18-11 lead. The Beavers were unable to summon those same heroics as Thiel claimed the wild victory.
Senior Brittany Huff made hay at the plate, pounding out four hits with three RBI and a pair of runs. Also contributing for Bluffton were Jessie Madzia and Courtney Jasinski who each connected three times. Makenzie Schmidt added two runs, two hits and two RBI
Taking the loss was NICOLE THOMAS (Tontogany/Otsego) who went 4.0 innings, allowing 11 runs off 14 hits. Thomas fanned three batters while walking a couple. Sophomore ALEXIS MONTEMARANO (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark) got in some work on the mound, going 3.1 innings in her first start of the season. She allowed four runs on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
Bluffton did not let the heartbreaking defeat loom over them as they jumped right back into action against Widener University. Widener had a chance to get on the scoreboard with bases loaded in the second but Jessie Madzia was able to get out of the inning after striking out a batter to avoid any damage.
The Pride would score first in the bottom of the fourth before Bluffton knotted the score up after CAYLIN MORSTADT (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) connected on an RBI double to right center. A run-scoring single by Jessie Madzia gave Bluffton a 2-1 lead with only one out in the top of the inning. After a throwing error by Widener, the Beavers saw two more runners cross the dish, making it 4-1 in the sixth. Widener left two runners on in both the sixth and seventh innings as Bluffton moved to 2-4 with the victory.
The only Beaver with multiple hits was Brittany Huff, while Caylin Morstadt and Jessie Madzia would each add a hit and an RBI for the winners. Despite only mustering up five hits in the contest, Bluffton was able to take advantage of the three Widener errors en route to the victory.
Picking up her first win of the season was Jessie Madzia who notched the complete game with five strikeouts while walking three. Madzia did not allow a single earned run despite giving up 10 hits to the Pride.
The Beavers are off Wednesday, March 7, but will be back on the diamond at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, March 8 when they take on WPI at OCSC Field 5.
-BEAVERS-