By Molly Burnell, sports information assistant
April 29, 2006

BLUFFTON, Ohio. - The Bluffton University softball team (14-19, 7-5 HCAC) dropped a doubleheader to
Anderson University (21-11, 10-2 HCAC) on Saturday, April 29, 2006. Bluffton fell to the Ravens 5-3 in the opener and dropped the second game by a final tally of 7-3.

GAME ONE - ANDERSON 5, BLUFFTON 3

Anderson started out the first inning with a double by LANE to center field.  A single by SANDERS and an error by the Beavers put the Ravens on top, 1-0. RANDALL doubled to center field and sent Sanders home to increase Anderson's lead to two runs.

Bluffton freshman RANDI YAEGER (Harrison/Harrison) started things off for the Beavers with a triple down the right field line and scored on an Anderson passed ball to put Bluffton on the board, 2-1, at the end of the first.

In the top of the second, SIEFRING nailed a two-run homer to put the Ravens up 4-1.

The bats were quiet for both teams until the bottom of the third inning when Yaeger reached on an Anderson error and was able to steal second. A single down the right field line by sophomore SARAH NUSBAUM (Fairview/Fairview) scored Yaeger and brought the Beavers to within two runs. Nusbaum advanced on a bunt by senior LINDSAY MILLER (Grover Hill/Wayne Trace) and junior CARRIE WEISBECKER (Okeana/Ross) was caught stealing to finish the third inning. 

Inning five saw another Raven home run as Sanders hit one over the fence to put Anderson up 5-2. Yaeger continued her hitting streak as she lofted a single to right center field; she then stole second base again and scored on an Anderson error which allowed Nusbaum to reach. Miller flied out and Nusbaum was picked off to end the inning. 

Neither team was able to get anything going in the sixth or seventh inning.  The Ravens took the game over the Beavers by a final score of 5-3. 

Bluffton was led by Yaeger who went 3-for-4 at the plate, including a triple. Taking the loss on the mound for the Beavers was senior SARAH BETTS (Bryan/Bryan) who struck out eight batters and gave up eight hits in seven innings of work. 

GAME TWO - ANDERSON 7, BLUFFTON 3

Sanders started things out for Anderson in the first inning with a double. LOEHNDORF reached base on a  Bluffton error and Sanders scored putting the Ravens on top 1-0. 

In the top of the fourth inning, Randall homered to give the Ravens a two-run cushion.

The Beavers came alive in the fifth inning when KELLIE KENNEY (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) reached on an Anderson error, and advanced to second base on a MICHELLE MOTTER(Lakeview/Indian Lake) bunt. Yaeger reached first base on another Raven error and Nusbaum doubled to right field scoring Yaeger and Kenney to tie the game at two. A sacrifice fly by Miller scored Nusbaum and gave the Beavers their first lead of the game.

Anderson found their bats in the top of the seventh inning as the Ravens knocked in five runs and took a 7-3 advantage over the Beavers. Bluffton failed to plate any runs in the bottom of the seventh as Anderson took the game 7-3. 

Leading Bluffton in the game was Nusbaum who went 2-for-3 at the plate, including a double. Kenney took the loss for Bluffton and her record drops to 3-4 on the season. 

Bluffton returns to action on Sunday, April 30, when it travels to Defiance to take on the Yellow Jackets. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

-BEAVERS-