By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
April 19, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team posted a pair of shutout wins at Case Western Reserve on Saturday, April 19, 2008. The Beavers improved to 20-14 overall while Case dropped 12-22 on the season.
Bluffton 5, Case Western Reserve 0
The game was scoreless until the top of the third inning when MOLLIE BROWN (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) singled to left field and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Another passed ball, this one on strike three to freshman TIFFANY BUCKMASTER(Lima/Bath) followed by a Case throwing error, left Brown and Buckmaster in scoring position. An RBI single by JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) plated both runners for a 2-0 lead.
ABBY SNIDER (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) doubled to right center and then came around to score on an AMANDA HARRIS (Arcanum/Arcanum) single in the top of the fourth inning, giving Bluffton a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay/Findlay) helped her own cause with a single to right field before she moved up a base on a passed ball. KELLIE KENNEY(Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) doubled to left center, plating Babcock. An Amanda Harris RBI groundout allowed Kenney to cross the plate for a 5-0 victory over the home team.
Both Marbaugh, who drove in a pair of runs, and Kenney had two hits to lead the Beavers during the first contest.
Brooke Babcock improved to 10-10 on the season with her complete-game three-hitter. She finished with four strikeouts and walked just one batter in the opening game.
Bluffton 7, Case Western Reserve 0
LINDSEY MILLER (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) opened the top of the second inning in game two with a single to right field. Following a walk to Babcock, Snider tripled to right field, driving home Miller and Babcock. The Beavers tacked on two more runs in the inning thanks to a single from Harris and a Mollie Brown triple.
An eventful fifth inning began with Buckmaster reaching first on a fielding error and then advanced to second on a Marbaugh single. Babcock ripped a base hit to right center, plating Buckmaster and moving Marbaugh in scoring position. Kenney's RBI single picked up Marbaugh for the second run of the inning.
TORRIE WILSON (Delphos/Jefferson) started the sixth inning with a single to right field. A groundout by Brown allowed Wilson to advance to second before Buckmaster singled her home for a 7-0 Bluffton lead.
The Beavers picked up seven runs on 12 hits, while the Spartans collected just four hits in game two. Miller, Snider, and Harris had two hits apiece while each scored one run in the victory. Snider led Bluffton with two RBI.
Kellie Kenney upped her season mark to 10-4 after giving up no runs on four hits in seven innings of work. She fanned four batters and issued three free passes in the contest.
The Bluffton University softball team returns to action on Monday, April 21, when the Beavers travel to face HCAC rival Defiance College. The first game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
-BEAVERS-