April 2, 2010
GAMBIER, Ohio - Bluffton struggled with its offense in game one before five second-inning runs in the nightcap allowed the Beavers to come away with a split at Kenyon College on Good Friday, April 2, 2010. The Beavers moved to 6-11 on the year, while Kenyon is now 8-10.
KENYON 6, BLUFFTON 2
With Bluffton trailing just 1-0 through four innings, it all fell apart in the bottom of the fifth. Four hits, including a two-run double, along with a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly, allowed the home team to take a commanding 4-0 lead.
The Beavers cut the deficit in half with two runs in the top of the sixth. SHELBY WADE(Delaware/Buckeye Valley) singled down the left field line to open the inning. She went to second on KIRSTEN STOPHER'S (Archbold) sacrifice bunt before TORRIE WILSON (Delphos/Jefferson) delivered a run-scoring single. She then stole second and came around to score when MEAGAN PRICE (Toledo/Springfield) singled to center field.
The home team capped off the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, including a leadoff homer, to make the final score 6-2 when Bluffton went down in order in the seventh.
JESSICA MCDONALD (Mechanicsburg) collected two of Bluffton five hits in game one. Wilson and Wade scored for the Beavers. KRISTIN AGAUAS (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Andover) fell to 1-2 with the loss. She allowed just one run on four hits in four innings of work.
BLUFFTON 6, KENYON 5
Bluffton took advantage of a Meagan Price triple to go ahead 1-0 in the top of the first. A five-run second pushed the Beavers to an early 6-0 lead that just held up as the home team scored two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
STEVIE CUTTITTA (Columbiaville, Mich./Clio) and EMILY MANAHAN (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) hit back-to-back singles to open the second before a JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) sacrifice moved them both into scoring position. Shelby Wade made it 3-0 with her double down the left field line. Price picked her up with a base knock before BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay) capped the scoring with a two-RBI single through the right side.
Kenyon netted five runs in the fourth and fifth, but Cuttitta returned to form and limited the home team to just one base runner over the final two frames as Bluffton held on to secure the split.
Price, CHELSIE OSBORNE (Chillicothe/Waverly) and Babcock all finshed the nightcap with two hits apiece. Wade and Babcock each drove in two runs, while Price scored twice. Stevie Cuttitta improved to 2-4 on the year with her complete game victory. She allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits and did not issue a walk.
Bluffton jumps back into action on Saturday, April 3, when the Beavers host conference foe Franklin College. The first game is slated to start at 11 a.m.
-BEAVERS-