April 12, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team ran its winning streak to nine games with a pair of dominating five-inning victories over conference foe Franklin College on a cold and rainy Saturday, April 12, 2008. Bluffton plated four runs in the third and fourth innings of game one and the Beavers scored eight runs in the third inning of game two as Bluffton improved to 18-12 overall and 8-2 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Franklin fell to 3-16, including a 1-4 mark in the HCAC.
Bluffton 10, Franklin 1 (5 innings)
Franklin scored its only run of the first game in the first inning when TRACEY SMITH opened the frame with an infield single. She moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by CHELSEA GREENEbefore two wild pitches caused by a mix of sleet and rain gave the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead over the home team.
In the bottom half of inning one, the Beavers responded with a pair of scores. Following a walk to MOLLIE BROWN (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) and her subsequent theft of second base, TIFFANY BUCKMASTER (Lima/Bath) singled to third and moved to second without a play.
Bluffton exploded for four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 6-1 lead over the visitors. TORRIE WILSON (Delphos/Jefferson) drew a leadoff walk and Buckmaster singled through the left side one out later. JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) loaded the bases when her fielder's choice was bobbled at third base. LINDSEY MILLER (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) picked up the RBI when she drew a free pass. A Franklin error allowed Marbaugh and Buckmaster to cross the plate before KELLIE KENNEY (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) plated Miller with her RBI double down the left field line.
The Beavers put the game out of reach with four more scores in the fourth inning. Brown and Buckmaster singled to open the frame and they moved up on a wild pitch. Marbaugh's squeeze bunt picked up Brown for the first run of the inning. Miller picked up Buckmaster with a base hit before ALLISON WHITE (Lima/Shawnee) came on to pinch run. One out later, ABBY SNIDER(Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) made the score 10-1 with her home run to left center.
Bluffton got a stellar performance from sophomore BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay/Findlay) who held the Grizzlies to four hits and just one run over five innings in the circle. She finished with nine strikeouts and walked only one batter while improving to 9-9 with her fifth consecutive victory.
Tiffany Buckmaster was a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate with three runs scored. Lindsey Miller went 1-for-1 with two RBI and two walks. Marbaugh drove in three runs while Snider picked up two RBI with her fourth-inning dinger. Mollie Brown scored twice in the victory.
Bluffton 9, Franklin 1 (5 innings)
Following two scoreless frames to open game two, Franklin again scored the first run of the contest. A MARLENE RUSSO two-bagger to left center scored TRACEY SMITH for the 1-0 lead over the home team.
The floodgates opened for the Beavers in the bottom of the third inning. Brown led off with a double to the gap in left center. Consecutive Franklin errors allowed Buckmaster and Marbaugh to reach before the next six Bluffton batters hit safely. Miller smoked a 2-RBI double just inside the bag at third base and Kellie Kenney picked up Snider with her single to right field. After Buckmaster's bunt single plated Wilson, Bluffton held an 8-1 lead over the Grizzlies thanks to eight hits and three errors in the inning.
Kenney scored the game-ending run in the fifth inning when Franklin could not come up with Torrie Wilson's shot to second base.
Kenney went 3-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI to help her cause in game two. Buckmaster, who was 5-for-5 on the day, and Lindsey Miller both collected two hits in the nightcap. Miller scored two runs for the Beavers. Bluffton banged out 23 hits in 46 at bats on the afternoon.
On the mound, Kenney gave up just one run on five hits in five innings of work. She improved to 9-3 while fanning six batters and issuing no free passes.
The Beavers return to action on Thursday, April 17, when they host Heidelberg College. The first contest is slated to start at 3 p.m.
-BEAVERS-