CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team dropped a pair of 9-1 decisions at Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Bluffton fell to 6-28 overall and 0-12 in the Heartland Conference, while MSJ improved to 15-13 and 7-5 in the HCAC.

The visitors managed just three hits in each game with Elizabeth Crites (Findlay), Hayley Lewis (Kettering/Fairmont) and Kayleigh Michael (Eaton/National Trail) all reaching safely in the lidlifter. Michael doubled home pinch runner Ella McCombs (Springfield/Southeastern) in the top of the fifth. Four MSJ runs in the home half and one more in the sixth sent the Lions to a 9-1 mercy-rule victory in game one.

Lewis fell to 1-10 after allowing eight runs on 11 hits in 4.1 innings of work. She walked two and struck out one.

Hope, Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) and Taryn Hampton (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) all cracked hits in the finale. Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) crossed the dish following a base knock from Tegeder in the third inning.

The Lions scored twice in the fifth and then they wrapped up their second 9-1 victory in as many games with five tallies in the home sixth.

Senior Katie Fleshman (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) slipped to 2-13, but she allowed just three runs on five hits in four innings. Fleshman walked three and gave up five hits.

Bluffton hits the road again on Saturday, April 28, when the Beavers face off with HCAC-leading Frankln College. Game one is slated for 1 p.m.

-BEAVERS-