April 29, 2007
ANDERSON, Ind. - The Bluffton University softball pitchers turned in a pair of phenomenal performances on Sunday, April 29, 2007, but it was not enough as Anderson swept the Beavers, 4-3 and 1-0 in eight innings. With the setbacks, Bluffton stands 13-15 overall with an 8-6 mark in Heartland Conference action. The Ravens are now 20-12 overall and 13-3 in the HCAC.
GAME 1 - ANDERSON 4, BLUFFTON 3
The Beavers bolted out to an early 2-0 lead after half an inning in the opener. Freshman KATIE AMMONS (Findlay/Findlay) ripped a leadoff triple and crossed the plate on a wild pitch. One out later, JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) reached safely with a base hit. She went to second on LINDSEY MILLER'S (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) single and then stole third to put runners on the corners. BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay/Findlay) picked up the RBI with her sacrifice fly to right field.
Anderson's LOUZAN reached safely on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the second. Following a walk to LOEHNDORF, LANE plated Louzan with her two-out single.
The Ravens took advantage of two Bluffton errors to score three unearned runs in the third inning. A FOX single scored SIEFRING and Louzon made the Beavers pay with her two-RBI double which gave the Ravens a 4-2 lead.
LAURA BROWN (Sullivan/Black River) smacked a one-out double in the top of fifth. One out later, sophomore GRETCHEN HANDLEY (Ashland/Ashland) plated her with a three-bagger, but the Beavers put only one runner on base over the final 2.1 innings as Anderson held on for the 4-3 victory in game one.
KELLIE KENNEY (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) fell to 8-8 on the year despite limiting Anderson to four runs, only one earned, on seven hits in 5.1 innings on the mound.
Miller went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Beavers. Ammons, Handley and Brown all scored in the game one loss.
GAME 2 - ANDERSON 1, BLUFFTON 0 (8 INNINGS)
In the nightcap, both teams had their chances during the first seven innings, but Babcock and THOMPSON routinely worked out of jams to keep the game scoreless and force the international tie-breaker to be used to determine the victor.
The Beavers appeared to be in an enviable position with Ammons placed on second to start the eighth. Three straight popups ended the threat as Anderson came to the plate.
ALSMAN started the bottom of the frame on second and promptly took third on a wild pitch. A walk to THOMPSON and the subsequent steal of second by pinch-runner HULL left both Raven runners in scoring position with no outs. A couple pop flies gave Bluffton hope before SIEFRINGended the game with her RBI single for the 1-0 win.
Babcock (4-7) scattered eight hits over 7.2 innings and gave up only one unearned run.
Marbaugh was the lone Beaver with multiple hits in game two, going 2-of-4 at the plate
The Beavers must now wait to see if they will make the four-team Heartland Conference tournament which takes place on May 4-5 at the top seed's home venue.
-BEAVERS-