March 9, 2010
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Bluffton University softball team used a superb BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay) pitching performance to take down 2009 PAC champion Thomas More on Tuesday, March 9, in day two at the Rebel Spring Games. Ursinus then shut down the Beavers in a 7-1 victory over Bluffton under the lights.
BLUFFTON 7, THOMAS MORE 2
Bluffton took advantage of a couple Thomas More errors and a double steal as EMILY MANAHAN (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) plated the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. TORRIE WILSON (Delphos/Jefferson) led off the third with a single to left center and she stole second before another Thomas More error allwed her to make it 2-0.
Three Bluffton miscues in the bottom of the fourth allowed the Saints to cut the deficit in half. A CHELSIE OSBORNE (Chillicothe/Waverly) triple to start the sixth led to Bluffton's third score of the game. With one out, Brooke Babcock helped her cause with a squeeze bunt that plated Osborne.
Following another Thomas More run in the home half of the sixth, the Beavers put the game away with four runs on six hits in the final frame. Freshman STEVIE CUTTITTA (Columbiaville, Mich./Clio) and Torrie Wilson opened with base hits and following a SHELBY WADE (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) sacrifice bunt, JESSICA MCDONALD (Mechanicsburg) delivered a two-run single to right field. JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) and Brooke Babcock both rapped RBI base knocks to make the final score 7-2.
Babcock was superb in the circle, giving up two runs, none earned, while working around five Bluffton errors. She struck out five batters and walked just one in her complete game victory. Osborne, Babcock and Wilson all finished with two hits. Wilson and Osborne both scored twice and McDonald drove in two runs.
URSINUS 7, BLUFFTON 1
Ursinus standout hurler LAUREN DAVIS-MACEDONIA had Bluffton's number from the start, allowing just two baserunners in the first five frames, both from her own errors, as the Beavers found themselves down 2-0 after five.
The Bears tacked on a run in the top of the sixth before Bluffton plated its only score in the home half. With the bases loaded and just one down, Marbaugh lofted a sacrifice fly to center which scored Torrie Wilson. Ursinus responed with four runs on four hits in the top of the seventh to make the final score 7-1.
Stevie Cuttitta had a fine first collegiate start for the Beavers, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings of work. She struck out three and allowed one free pass. Osborne and McDonald had the only hits for Bluffton.
Bluffton gets an early start on Wednesday, March 10, taking on Carthage College at 9 a.m. before an 11 a.m. meeting with Missouri Baptist.
-BEAVERS-