April 13, 2007
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team fell twice to non-conference opponent Adrian College on Friday, April 13, 2007. In the first game, the Beavers' bats were silent as the Bulldogs took a 7-1 victory over the hosts. Despite bolting to a 6-0 lead in the nightcap, Bluffton saw Adrian rally for five unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and a 7-6 victory and sweep of the Beavers.
GAME ONE - ADRIAN 7, BLUFFTON 1
A six-run fourth inning of game one was all the Bulldogs needed and more. Five hits, a pair of free passes and a Bluffton error allowed Adrian to send six runners across the plate. EMILY MCLANE and KATE KILIMAS both ripped two-run doubles in an inning that would not end for the Beavers.
KRISSY SHEETS, who finished the day 6-of-9, tripled to right center in the top of the seventh and pushed the Bulldogs' lead to seven following a McLane single down the left field line.
Bluffton plated its only run of the contest in the bottom of the final frame when the Bulldogs' catcher bobbled the throw on what would have been a game-ending double play at home and third following AMANDA HARRIS' (Arcanum/Arcanum) double to right center. ANDREA WOZNIAK (Port Clinton/Port Clinton) scored on the play, but it was too little, too late, as Adrian picked up a 7-1 victory in the first game.
KATIE AMMONS (Findlay/Findlay) went 2-of-3 in the opener. KELLIE KENNEY(Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) took the loss, giving up six runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts in four innings of work. She fell to 4-4 on the year.
GAME TWO - ADRIAN 7, BLUFFTON 6
Bluffton took an early one-run lead in the nightcap thanks to a Miller double, a JENNA MAYER (Lima/Shawnee) bunt single and an Amanda Harris sacrifice fly.
In the top of the third inning, the Beavers found their bats. Ammons opened with a double to left field. GRETCHEN HANDLEY'S (Ashland/Ashland) sacrifice bunt moved Ammons to third for JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) who singled her home. BROOKE BABCOCK(Findlay/Findlay) ended LINDSAY MANDEVILLE'S evening in the circle with a bomb over the center field wall, making the score 4-0. Miller started a two-out rally with an infield single. She moved to second on Mayer's base hit through the left side and came around when Amanda Harris stroked a single to right center. With the Bulldogs trying to catch Harris off first, Mayer sneaked home for a 6-0 Bluffton lead.
Three Adrian hits in the bottom of the third closed the gap to four runs after three innings of play.
The bottom of the fourth started uneventfully with two quick outs, but Adrian took advantage of an untimely Bluffton error to paste five runs on the Beavers, all unearned, as CARMEN BATWAY drove a 3-2 Babcock offering over the left field fence for a grand slam and what turned out to be the game-winning RBI.
The Beavers did not go away quietly, however, two double plays on sharp line drives kept Bluffton from overcoming the Bulldogs in game two.
Miller led the Beavers in the nightcap, going 4-of-4 with one run scored. Marbaugh collected three hits, a run and an RBI while Ammons went 2-of-4 for a 4-of-7 afternoon against Adrian.
Babcock worked 3.2 innings, giving up all seven runs, only two which were earned. She allowed nine hits and fell to 1-5 on the season.
The Beavers will return to action on Sunday, April 15, at Manchester. The first game of the doubleheader is slated to start at 1 p.m. Bluffton's contest at Franklin for Saturday, April 14, has been postponed until Saturday, April 28, at 1 p.m.
-BEAVERS-