By Tim Stried
March 17, 2003
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Sarah Betts, 4-2 pitching record, 35 K's |
Missy Neal, team high .317 batting average |
Freshman Sarah Betts and sophomore Jenny Lehman turned in sparkling pitching performances for the Bluffton College softball team Friday in a double-header at Thomas More College, but the Beaver offense was held in check as the Saints defeated Bluffton in both contests.
In the opener, Betts had as many hits herself as she allowed as she was 2-for-2 at the plate and allowed just two hits in six innings and struck out seven batters, but the Beavers fell 2-1. Senior Stephanie Rush collected a double and scored on an RBI by sophomore Mandy Snider. In the second game, Lehman also held TMC to two hits, but Bluffton was dealt a 1-0 loss.
Bluffton's home opener against Kalamazoo on March 15 was rained out.
Bluffton is now 6-6 overall and will hit the road for its next three double-headers, all of which are non-conference affairs. The Beavers will travel to Heidelberg on March 19, Adrian on March 22 and Alma on March 27 before returning to their home field on Sat., March 29 to host Hanover at 11 a.m. in BC's first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference showdown of the season.
Senior Missy Neal leads the team in batting average (.317), at bats (41), hits (13), triples (3) and ranks second in RBI (6) and slugging percentage (.463). Sophomore Allison Lange is batting .270 and leads the squad in doubles (3) and RBI (7), while other offensive leaders include Betts (.300), sophomore Lane Leedy (.294), senior Missy Alexander (.278) and sophomore Michelle Pleiman (.263), who owns a team-best .474 slugging percentage.
Betts (1.23 ERA) leads the pitching staff with a 4-2 record and 35 strikeouts. Freshman Jessica Rosengarten (1-1) leads the staff with a 0.75 ERA, while Lehman is 1-3 with a 5.19 ERA.