April 10, 2010
LEXINGTON, Kentucky - The Bluffton University softball team saw its eight-game Heartland Conference winning streak come to an end with a pair of losses at Transylvania on Saturday, April 10, 2010. Bluffton slips to 8-2 in the HCAC and 10-13 overall, while Transylvania improved to 20-6 on the season and 4-0 in the HCAC.
TRANSYLVANIA 6, BLUFFTON 3
Transylvania jumped out to a 3-0 lead after rapping five hits in the bottom of the first inning. MITCHELL doubled to left center, scoring two, and LADANYI followed with an RBI single up the middle. The Beavers answered with three scores of their own in the top of the second. BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay) laced a ground-rule double to start the frame before pinch-runner TIFFANY BUCKMASTER (Lima/Bath) moved to third on a passed ball. EMILY MANAHAN (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) picked her up with a single to center. Two errors by the home team aided the Beavers as both JESSICA MCDONALD (Mechanicsburg) and Manahan crossed the dish.
The Pioneers added two runs in the bottom of the second and another in the third beforeKENDRA DEARK found her zone as she allowed just three hits and no runs over the last five innings in improving to 14-2 on the year.
TORRIE WILSON (Delphos/Jefferson) and Brooke Babcock both finished with two hits apiece. Freshman STEVIE CUTTITTA (Columbiaville, Mich./Clio) fell to 4-5 with the loss. She gave up six runs on nine hits in five innings of work. KRISTIN AGAUAS (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Andover) set the Pioneers down in order in the sixth to keep Bluffton within striking distance.
TRANSYLVANIA 8, BLUFFTON 0 (6 INNINGS)
Following two scoreless frames to start the second contest, Transy exploded for four runs in the third and never looked back. Mitchell provided the spark with a two-run shot to right center. Pierce and Wall both followed with RBI hits as the Pioneers pounded out five safeties in the inning.
The home team scored in each of the next three frames, including two times in the fifth, before Tiffany Buckmaster broke up Olivia Wall's no-hit bid with a pinch-hit single up the middle in the top of the sixth. Transy plated its eighth run of the game in the home half, ending the contest with two outs and one runner on base.
Babcock surrendered four runs on six hits in just three innings on the mound. Agauas also gave up four runs as Transylvania made a statement with its convincing sweep of Bluffton.
The Beavers return to action with a non-conference doubleheader against Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday, April 13. The first contest is slated for 3:30 p.m. in Bluffton.
-BEAVERS-