March 29, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Rose-Hulman continued its winning ways with a pair of victories over the Bluffton University softball team on Saturday, March, 29, in the Beavers' opening Heartland Conference contests of 2008. Bluffton fell to 9-11 overall and 0-2 in the HCAC following the 6-2 and 6-1 losses at the hands of the Engineers. RHIT improved to 12-2 overall with a spotless 4-0 mark in the Heartland Conference.
Rose-Hulman 6, Bluffton 2
The Engineers took the early 1-0 lead over Bluffton in the top of the first when BRITTANY BERNTHOLD'S single through the left side plated ASHLEY MONTGOMERY.
Rose upped its lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth inning thanks to three hits, a passed ball and a leadoff error by the Beavers. KYLA LUTZ picked up Montgomery and KRISTIN GREER with her base hit down the left field line with two outs.
In the home half of the fifth, AMANDA HARRIS' (Arcanum/Arcanum) shot off the pitcher plated TONYA DEAN (Kettering/Fairmont) to cut the deficit to two runs.
The visitors tacked on two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh while Bluffton managed only one more score in the bottom of the sixth inning. KELLIE KENNEY (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) drove in MOLLIE BROWN (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) with her two-bagger, but KATIE MAGGARD regained control and finished off the Beavers for a 6-2 victory in the opener. She held Bluffton to two runs, one earned, on just three hits while improving to 5-1 on the season.
Kenney, Babcock and Harris collected the three hits for the home team. Babcock fell to 4-8 with the complete game loss. She gave up six runs, only two earned, on 11 hits in seven innings.
Rose-Hulman 6, Bluffton 1
Bluffton jumped out to a 1-0 lead over the visitors in the bottom of the first inning in the second contest. Brown singled with one out and she motored around when JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) doubled to the wall in right center. Unfortunately for Bluffton, the Beavers managed just one single over the final six innings as JORDAN GOSLEE upped her record to 4-1 with a three-hit gem.
The Engineers took control of the game with three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth and they put it away with two more scores in the sixth. RHIT improved to 4-0 in the HCAC with the 6-1 victory over the Beavers.
Mollie Brown led Bluffton with a pair of infield singles and she scored the lone run in the loss to the Engineers. Kellie Kenney dropped to 5-3 after giving up six runs on 12 hits in seven innings of work.
The Beavers are scheduled to play their third doubleheader in four days when Bluffton travels to Adrian on Monday, March 31. The first contest is slated to start at 3:30 p.m. against the Bulldogs.
-BEAVERS-