May 2, 2009

LEXINGTON, Kentucky - The Bluffton University softball team was unable to generate any offense against regular season champion Transylvania as the Pioneers used a leadoff homer in the bottom of the sixth to end the Beavers' season 1-0 in the Heartland Conference semi-finals.

Bluffton ended its season with a school record for wins, going 30-13 overall and 12-4 in the HCAC. The Pioneers fell to Defiance in the final contest by a 6-0 count, sending the Yellow Jackets into next week's NCAA Regionals for the second straight year.

Following five straight scoreless innings for both teams, Transylvania's standout shortstop JESSICA BROADHEAD opened the bottom of the sixth with a home run over the fence in left center for a 1-0 lead.

Senior KELLIE KENNEY (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) hit what looked to be a game-tying shot to center with one out in the top of the seventh, but JESSICA PIERCE went through the fence to rob Kenney of her third bomb of the season and KENDRA DEARK got EMILY MANAHAN(Columbus/Bishop Watterson) to ground out to complete her one-hit shutout of the Beavers.

KRISTIN AGAUAS (Bloomfield, Mich./Andover) was sensational in the circle during her second straight game against Transylvania, limiting the Pioneers to just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts. BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay) struck out the only batter she faced in the sixth inning.

Junior JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) collected Bluffton's only hit of the game with her base knock through the left side in the top of the fourth. For her efforts this weekend, Marbaugh was selected to the HCAC All-Tournament Team.

-BEAVERS-