By: Rustin Pickett, sports information assistant
March 20, 2007
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team scored two runs on a single by freshman centerfielder KATE AMMONS (Findlay/Findlay) to take game one in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Bluffton came back after it surrendered a run to the Spartans in the top half of the seventh. In the nightcap, the Beavers forced the game into a tie-break situation but fell short to even their record at 2-2 as the Spartans improved to 3-7.
GAME ONE - BLUFFTON 3, CASE 2
On a sunny but cold Tuesday afternoon, both squads couldn't ignite the bats for the first three innings as the game stood scoreless heading into the fourth inning. Case crossed the plate first to notch the first run of the contest. Jen Bullen started the inning off with a single to left field, which was followed with another single by Angel Rice. Starting pitcher KELLIE KENNEY (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) was able to strike out the next batter to get the first out of the inning. A patient at bat by RUTH SAGARTZ loaded the bases and the Beavers found themselves in a jam. A heads up play by third baseman JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) kept the Spartans off the board as she threw home for the force out. The fielder's choice kept the bases loaded and a walk drawn by LAUREN SEEDS allowed the Spartans to go ahead, 1-0.
The Beavers half of the inning started with Marbaugh at the plate as she put the ball in play and caused an errant throw to first base which allowed her to advance to second. A single ripped by JENNA MAYER (Lima/Shawnee) pushed Marbaugh to third with no outs and runners on the corners. LINDSAY MILLER'S(Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) hit to the right side of the field forced the Spartans to make the play at first and allowed Marbough to cross the plate to tie the game.
Two more scoreless innings flew by and kept the game knotted at one run as the squads headed into the final frame. Once again, the Spartans drew blood first with a score in the top half, but the Beavers had a enough fight left to squeeze out the victory. Senior shortstop CARRIE WEISBECKER (Okeana/Ross) doubled to right center to jump start the rally. After a walk drawn by BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay/Findlay), Kenney placed a sacrifice bunt up the first base side to advance both runners. With two outs and two on, Ammons slapped a single into left field which was deep enough to score both runners and seal the deal as the Beavers walked away victorious over the Spartans in the first contest, 3-2.
GAME TWO - CASE 5, BLUFFTON 4 (8 INNINGS)
Both squads were able to trade runs in the first inning with the Beavers scoring first to take a 1-0 lead. The Spartans answered back in the bottom half of the second to tie the game. With the game tied at one, the Spartans put together a multi-run inning. COURTNEY GEIB started the inning with a single to centerfield. JESSIE MOORE followed with a walk to put two runners on with no outs. To load the bases, LAUREN SEEDS reached on a dropped fly ball. The Beavers were able to get the first out when Kenney struck out the next batter. With two on and one out, CARRIE CASDEN singled to right field to plate one run and move the next runner to within 60 feet of home plate. AMANDA BELL then flew out to right field, but it was deep enough for the runner to tag up and score the second run for the Spartans in the bottom of the fourth.
The Beavers waited until the top half to the sixth to spark another rally. GRETCHEN HANDLEY (Ashland/Ashland) was able to reach base on a fielder's choice and later advanced to second base as Marbaugh stayed hot and scorched a single to right field. Both runners advanced a base on a passed ball, which allowed them to move into position to score on any ball hit out of the infield. An errant throw by the catcher allowed Marbaugh to score and Handley crossed the plate when the return throw went awry. The Beavers were held scoreless in the seventh and they repaid the favor to the Spartans by sending the game into extra innings.
In extra innings under international tie-breaker rules, each team is allowed to put the last batter who was put out in the previous inning on second base to start the frame. The Beavers, who were the visiting team for the second game, started the tie-breaker off with one run.
The Spartans were able to answer back with two runs, giving them the victory in the nightcap. Bluffton fell to 2-2 and Case Western Reserve improved to 3-7.
The Beavers were lead by Jayme Marbaugh who tallied three hits and two RBI's. Katie Ammons chimed in with a 3-for-6 day at the plate and she also drove in two runs. Case was led by Amanda Bell with her four hits and one RBI. Lauren Seeds contributed with a 3-for-6 day at the plate and one RBI to round out the attack for the Spartans.
-BEAVERS-