BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team dedicated the Kim Fischer Press Box prior to a Heartland Conference doubleheader with long-time rival Defiance College on a beautiful Saturday, April 6, 2024. Defiance swept the twin-bill, improving to 6-13 overall and 2-0 in the Heartland Conference. Bluffton dipped to 6-18 on the season with a 0-4 mark in the HCAC.
A 25-minute top of the first saw Defiance go up 9-0 thanks to three errors, two walks and two hit batters. All nine tallies were of the unearned variety and they propelled the visitors to a 12-4 mercy-rule victory in five innings. The home plate umpire went down in the fourth and 40 minutes later, it was back to action as the series finished with just one umpire.
Bluffton got on the board with three in the bottom of the second thanks to a two-run single for Ashley Kloeker (Troy) and an RBI groundout by Mia McCartney (North Baltimore). Riley Hammonds (Russia) singled home McCartney in the fifth, but Defiance wrapped up the lidlifter with a 12-4 win.
Senior Katie Fleshman (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) slipped to 2-9 on the season after allowing 11 runs, but just two earned, on eight hits in four innings of work. She struck out one and walked two Jackets.
Elizabeth Crites (Findlay) went 2-of-2 and Kloeker drove in a pair of runs.
Back-to-back Defiance errors added up to a pair of unearned runs and a 2-2 tie after three innings in game two. Taryn Hampton (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) crossed the dish on a dropped fly ball before Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) laced an RBI single through the left side, scoring McCartney.
A three-run fifth for the visitors put DC up 5-2 and Anika Craft did the rest, putting four straight zeros on the board to secure a sweep with the 5-2 victory. She fanned 13 Beavers on Saturday.
Freshman Emily Hope (Enon/Greenon) fell to 3-3 after giving up five runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings on the bump.
Kayleigh Michael (Eaton/National Trail) had two of Bluffton's three hits in game two.
The Beavers are back at Bluffton Field for a pair on non-league games with Wilmington on Tuesday, April 9. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-