April 28, 2007
FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Bluffton University softball team used timely hitting and masterful pitching to move into third place in the Heartland Conference with a pair of convincing victories at Franklin College on Saturday, April 28, 2007. The Beavers took game one, 9-3, and shelled the Grizzlies, 11-1, in five innings in the nightcap. Bluffton improved to 13-13 overall with an 8-4 mark in the HCAC.
GAME 1 - BLUFFTON 9, FRANKLIN 3
The Beavers jumped on the scoreboard with three runs in the first inning of game one. KATIE AMMONS (Findlay/Findlay) singled and moved to second on a LAURA BROWN(Sullivan/Black River) sacrifice bunt. Freshman standout JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) ripped a run-scoring single and she came around following BROOKE BABCOCK'S (Findlay/Findlay) base hit. With two outs, CARRIE WEISBECKER (Okeana/Ross) plated Babcock with her two-bagger.
The Grizzlies took advantage of a leadoff walk to TURNER in the bottom the third. She moved to second on a WOODALL bunt and third on SMITH'S flyball to center. A POGUE single pushed her across the plate before a slick double play by the Beavers ended the threat.
A breakout fifth inning provided Bluffton with all the offense it needed. Three consecutive one-out singles by Brown, Marbaugh and LINDSEY MILLER (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) got the rally started. They all crossed the plated as Franklin had trouble taking care of the ball, racking up three errors in the inning. Weisbecker doubled home Miller and Babcock before JENNA MAYER (Lima/Shawnee) picked her up with a single to left field.
Bluffton allowed Franklin to score an unearned run in both the fifth and seventh innings, but the Beavers tacked on a score in the top of the seventh when Weisbecker drove in Miller.
Senior Carrie Weisbecker led the Beavers at the plate with a 3-for-4 game with four RBI and a run scored. Marbaugh was a perfect 3-of-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Mayer and Miller both collected two hits while Miller and Babcock scored two runs each.
KELLIE KENNEY (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) tossed a three-hitter, striking out six batters. She gave up three runs, only one earned, and improved to 8-7 with the complete game victory.
GAME 2 - BLUFFTON 11, FRANKLIN 1 (5 INNINGS)
The Beavers picked up in game two right where they left off. Leadoff walks to Ammons and Brown paid dividends immediately as Miller spanked a two-run double for the quick 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. Babcock picked up Miller with her base hit which put Bluffton up, 3-0.
Two Franklin errors in the second allowed GRETCHEN HANDLEY (Ashland/Ashland) to cross the plate following her leadoff single.
A one-out Handley single in the top of the fourth started a four-run rally for the Beavers. Ammons doubled, putting two runners in scoring position. With two outs, consecutive singles by Marbaugh, Miller and Babcock put the Beavers up, 8-0, midway through the fourth.
Mayer ignited another rally for Bluffton in the fifth when she rapped a two-out single. Handley's third base hit of the game moved Mayer up sixty feet and she came around on Ammons' two-bagger. Handley and Ammons both crossed the plate when Franklin could not handle Brown's poke to second.
The Grizzlies plated a lone run in the home half of the fifth after DAUGHTERY opened with a double, but it was not enough as the Beavers closed out the game, 11-1, in five innings.
Babcock, who improved to 4-6 on the year, and Brown combined to four-hit the Grizzlies, limiting Franklin to one unearned run in the second game.
Miller was clutch at the plate, going 2-of-3 with three RBI and one run scored. Handley finished 3-of-3 with three runs scored. Ammons went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and one RBI. Mayer and Babcock both finished the second contest with two hits.
The Beavers jump right back into action on Sunday, April 29, when they travel north from Franklin to Anderson for a crucial HCAC doubleheader with the Ravens. The first game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
-BEAVERS-