TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Bluffton University softball team split its conference-opening doubleheader at Rose-Hulman on Saturday, April 3, 2021 The Beavers moved to 4-12 overall and 1-1 in the Heartland Conference, while Rose stands at 6-7 and 1-1 in the HCAC.

A Taylor Steinke (Findlay) sacrifice fly in the first and another RBI by the senior in the third had the Beavers up 2-0 before Rose plated a pair of unearned tallies in the bottom of the frame. Lily Tate (Mount Gilead/Northmor) doubled to open the fifth inning and she came around courtesy of a Bobbi Adams (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) single that made the score 3-2.

With the game knotted at 3-3 after seven innings, Sydney Zinkon knocked in the game winner with two outs in the eighth as the Beavers opened their conference slate with a 4-3 victory.

Senior Katie McCord (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) came in and worked scoreless frames in the seventh and eight to notch her first victory of the season. She allowed just one hit with no walks. Sophomore Erin Norman (Pleasant Hill/Newton) went six strong innings, allowing three runs, just one earned, on seven hits with five punchouts.

Adams finished with three hits. Tate went 2-of-5 with two runs scored. Steinke drove in two runs and Riley Langstaff (Findlay) rapped a pair of two-baggers.

Bluffton gave up seven runs in the first two frames of game two, but three Beaver tallies in the second and another in the third kept the visitors within striking distance. Lexus Rutledge (Henderson, KY/Henderson County) laced a two-run single and Brianna Baker (Defiance/Ayersville) followed with a base knock that plated Marissa Auvil (Canton/Hoover) in the second frame. Steinke's RBI double  in the third drove in Sammi Urban (Troy/Miami East), making it 7-4 in favor of the Engineers.

Auvil's double in the fifth picked up Steinke and Adams, knotting the score at sevens, but a ground ball with the sacks full in the bottom of the seventh propelled RHIT to the 8-7 victory in game two.

Steinke, Auvil and Rutledge all drove in two runs during the nightcap. Steinke scored twice for the Beavers. Junior Grace Fillinger (Hinckley/Highland) took the hard-luck loss after limiting RHIT to just two runs on six hits over the final 5.1 innings. She walked two and struck out one. McCord was tagged for six runs on nine hits in just 1+ inning in the circle.

Bluffton will welcome Manchester for a pair of conference games on Wednesday, March 7. The first pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.

-BEAVERS-