By: Jordon Bruner, sports imformation assistant
April 22, 2007
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team swept its second series of the weekend, defeating Hanover College 10-0 in game one and 5-1 in the closer on Sunday, April 22, 2007. The Beavers have now won four consecutive HCAC contests, including five of their last six, to improve to 6-4 in the conference and 10-12 overall.
GAME 1 - BLUFFTON 10, HANOVER 0
The Beavers never trailed in the opener as they jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage in the bottom half of the first inning. KATIE AMMONS (Findlay/Findlay) led off the game for Bluffton with a single up the middle, then two stolen bases later, scored on a double to left center by BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay/Findlay). Babcock then scored on LINDSEY MILLER'S(Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) single to center.
One inning later, Bluffton tacked on two more to grab a 4-0 lead. GRETCHEN HANDLEY(Ashland/Ashland) scored on an RBI double by Ammons, who would also cross the plate following a single by CARRIE WEISBECKER (Okeana/Ross).
After four innings, the lead was pushed to 5-0 when LAURA BROWN (Sullivan/Black River) scored as Ammons drew the throw on a faked steal of second base.
JENNA MAYER (Lima/Shawnee) hit a double in the gap to left center to score Weisbecker starting the fifth inning. Two batters later, AMANDA HARRIS (Arcanum/Arcanum) hit a walk-off grand slam as the Beavers won 10-0 in a game that lasted only five innings due to the mercy rule.
KELLIE KENNEY (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) threw a three-hit shut-out for Bluffton, only facing 19 batters in her five innings of work. The victory moved her to 7-6 on the season with a 2.44 ERA.
Bluffton tied its season-high with ten runs as all but one Beaver scored. Ammons, Weisbecker, and Babcock each had two hits for the Beavers who as a team hit 11-of-23 for the game. Over the last three games, Bluffton has hit 31-of-75 (.413 BA) en route to a three-game winning streak.
GAME 2 - BLUFFTON 5, HANOVER 1
Hanover grabbed its first and only lead of the series when TARA HOLSTINE scored after MEREDITH DEWIT hit a fielder's choice to second base that the Beavers almost turned into a double play.
Babcock helped her own cause by driving in Ammons to knot the game at 1-1.
Bluffton regained the lead in the fourth as pinch runner ANDREA WOZNIAK (Port Clinton/Port Clinton) touched the dish after a double by JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway), putting the Beavers out in front, 2-1.
The fifth inning of the nightcap went much like the opener as Bluffton once again extended its lead. Miller's double plated Ammons and Weisbecker who both reached on lead-off walks. One out later, Miller scored on a passed ball, giving the Beavers a 5-1 advantage.
Babcock worked her way out of a jam in the sixth inning, as she went the distance and finished with six scoreless innings for the win. The victory, her second consecutive, moves her to 3-6 on the season with a 3.72 ERA.
Miller led Bluffton, going 1-of-2 with two RBI and a run of her own. Marbaugh and Babcock also knocked in runs for the Beavers who finished this weekend's HCAC homestand with a perfect 4-0 record
Bluffton returns to action on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, when it hosts local rival University of Findlay at 3 p.m.
-BEAVERS-