Calvin pitching too much for Bluffton

Calvin pitching too much for Bluffton

By: Nick Taflinger, sports information assistant

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Bluffton University softball team faced Calvin College in a doubleheader matchup on Thursday, April 4. In game one, Bluffton got dominated in every facet of the game as they lost 11-0 in five innings of action. The Knights tossed a no-hitter in game one before limiting the Beavers to a pair of safeties in a 4-1 victory which capped the sweep. The Beavers are now 5-17 overall, while host Calvin improved to 15-5.

Calvin brought out their best ball in game one as they held Bluffton scoreless, but even more impressively, hitless en route to an 11-0 victory. Bluffton could not get anything going with the bats following an error that allowed leadoff hitter Kelsey Reeder (Galion/Northmor) to reach in the first. Calvin had two innings with three runs (first and third) and an inning of four runs (fourth inning). Both teams committed one error in the opener.

Following the Calvin miscue, the only two Beavers to reach base were Caylin Morstadt (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) and Tabatha Koetter (Beavercreek) who both drew walks. Katie McCord (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) got the start for the Beavers, giving up seven runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings of work. Alexis Montemarano (Brook Park/Berea) tossed the final 1.2 innings for the Beavers and gave up four runs on seven hits.

Calvin got a run in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead over Bluffton. In the bottom of the fourth, they added another tally for a 2-0 lead. Through four innings of action in game two, the Beavers had still not recorded a hit on the day, making it nine straight innings of hitless hurling for the Knights.

In the top of the fifth, Bluffton finally broke the ice. Annie McCrate (Westerville/South) stepped to the plate with two outs and helped her cause with a single to left field, scoring Megan Hill (Arcadia) from third base and making the score 2-1

Calvin added two security runs in the home half of the sixth to extend the Knights lead to 4-1, which held for the final score.

Taylor Steinke (Findlay) went 1-for-2, while McCrate finished 1-of-3 with an RBI. McCrate (0-2) pitched all six innings for the Beavers, giving up four runs on six hits.

Bluffton will be back in action on Sunday, April 7, when they host Ohio Wesleyan in another non-conference doubleheader that starts at 1 PM. Come out and support your Beavers!

-BEAVERS-