By: Jordon Bruner, sports information assistant
April 20, 2007
Bluffton, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team used a six-run fifth inning in the opener and superb pitching in the second game to sweep HCAC foe Mount St. Joseph on Friday, April 20, 2007. The Beavers overcame seven errors in the first game to knock off the Lions, 7-4, while also taking the nightcap, 4-1. Bluffton moves to .500 (4-4) in HCAC play with the win, with an overall record of 8-12.
GAME 1 - BLUFFTON 7, MSJ 4
Bluffton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first as LINDSEY MILLER(Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) continued her torrid hitting, driving in leadoff batter KATIE AMMONS (Findlay/Findlay) who had singled through the left side.
The Mount took advantage of two Bluffton errors in the top of the second inning to grab a 3-1 advantage.
Three innings later, the Lions tacked on another run as RANDI YAEGER'S double down the leftfield line plated KRISTINA DENNETT, giving Mount St. Joseph a comfortable 4-1 lead.
The Beavers responded in the bottom half of the fifth inning, as six runs crossed the plate. JENNA MAYER (Lima/Shawnee) led off the inning with a single, which was followed by a single through the right side by LAURA BROWN (Sullivan/Black River). Ammons then pulled Bluffton within one on her two-run triple that scored Brown and pinch runner AMANDA BARTZ(Columbus Grove/Columbus Grove). The Beavers knotted the game at four when JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) hit a sacrifice fly to right, driving in Ammons. Bluffton did not stop there as back-to-back singles by BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay/Findlay) and Miller put runners on second and third before AMANDA HARRIS (Arcanum/Arcanum) singled up the middle to score Babcock. Two batters later, GRETCHEN HANDLEY (Ashland/Ashland) reached on a fielding error that allowed Miller and Harris to cross the plate, giving Bluffton a 7-4 lead.
Sophomore KELLIE KENNEY (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) held the Lions scoreless over the final two innings, picking up the win for Bluffton. Kenney pitched a complete game, giving up four runs, all unearned, to improve to 6-6 on the season.
Ammons went 3-of-4 at the plate, with two runs scored and two RBI. Miller and Mayer each went 2-of-3 for the game, while Babcock, Harris, and Brown also had hits for Bluffton. The Beavers finished the game with 10 hits in only 26 at-bats.
GAME 2 - BLUFFTON 4, MSJ 1
In the final game of the doubleheader, Mount St. Joseph jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage as three consecutive errors allowed leadoff hitter ERIN BROGAN to advance to third with no outs. A sacrifice fly by Kristina Dennett drove in Brogan, giving the Lions the lead.
Bluffton would once again answer in the bottom half of the inning. Marbaugh and Babcock both reached with one out, before a single by Miller plated Marbaugh to tie the game. SENIOR CARRIE WEISBECKER'S (Okeana/Ross) single through the left side gave the Beavers a 2-1 lead as Babcock came around to score on the play.
After a 1-2-3 inning by Babcock, fellow frosh battery mate Mayer pounded a lead-off homer to straight-away center as Bluffton pushed its lead to 3-1.
Bluffton added an insurance run in bottom of the sixth inning when Handley scored on a throwing error following a single by Brown.
Babcock pitched a scoreless seventh for Bluffton which swept the series with a 4-1 win in the second game. The freshman pitcher threw a two-hit masterpiece, giving up one run, unearned, to improve to 2-6 on the season.
Miller was a perfect 2-of-2 from the plate, while Marbaugh and Mayer were each 2-of-3 for the game. Bluffton once again had 10 hits for the ballgame, hitting .385 (20-of-52) for the series.
For the afternoon, Jenna Mayer went 4-for-6 while Katie Ammons finished 4-of-8 with two runs scored and two RBI. Lindsey Miller also collected four hits for the Beavers
Bluffton returns to action on Sunday, April 22, 2007, when the Beavers host Hanover College. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
-BEAVERS-