Posted: Apr 21, 2010
April 21, 2010
By: Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team struggled to move the ball in game one, but the Beavers pulled out a split following their 7-3 victory over Heidelberg University on April 21, 2010. Bluffton now stands at 13-16, while the Student Princes are 21-11 on the season
HEIDELBERG 3, BLUFFTON 2
The first game remained scoreless until the top of the fifth when Heidelberg scored two runs to take the lead. They ended the inning with two runs on three hits before tacking on an insurance score in top of the sixth for a 3-0 advantage.
The Beavers finally pushed two runs across the plate in the sixth, cutting the deficit to a single run going to the final inning. CHELSIE OSBORNE (Chillicothe/Waverly) opened the inning with a single down the right field line and then stole second base. BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay) drew a walk, putting runners on first and second. Osborne and Babcock both advanced on a sacrifice bunt by JESSICA MCDONALD (Mechanicsburg). EMILY MANAHAN (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) plated Osborne with an RBI groundout before JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) knocked in Babcock with her single up the middle.
The Beavers went down in order an inning later, giving Heidelberg a 3-2 victory in game one of the non-conference doubleheader. Osborne went 2-of-3 with a run scored. Brooke Babcock fell to 6-8 on the season despite allowing just two runs on seven hits in five innings of work. She struck out three and walked just one batter.
BLUFFTON 7, HEIDELBERG 3
In the first inning the Beavers came out and took the early 3-0 lead. SHELBY WADE(Delaware/Buckeye Valley) reached first on a Heidelberg error, the first of six that the Student Princes committed in game two. Wade stole second, putting her in scoring position. Chelsie Osborne singled through the right side, scoring Wade from second. Brooke Babcock picked up the RBI when she followed with a single up the middle, allowing Osborne to score from second. Babcock moved up on a ground out by Jessica McDonald and then advanced to third on a single by Emily Manahan. Babcock came across with the final run of the inning after Jayme Marbaugh reached first on another Heidelberg miscue.
Heildelberg tied the game in the top of the second. They scored three runs on four hits, the big shot a three-run bomb to right center by Megan Reinhart.
The Beavers came back in the bottom of the third and added two runs. Jessica McDonald started the action with a single through the left side. McDonald advanced when Emily Manahan singled through the left side. McDonald and Manahan moved into scoring position after Jayme Marbaugh grounded out. STEVIE CUTTITTA (Columbiaville, Mich./Clio ) then reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop, allowing both McDonald and Manahan to score.
In the bottom of the fifth the Beavers added one to their score. Emily Manahan started off the inning with a two-bagger to right center. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Stevie Cuttitta before TIFFANY BUCKMASTER (Lima/Bath) legged out an infield single for the RBI.
Bluffton University tacked on one more in the bottom of the sixth, making the score 7-3. Chelsie Osborne led off for the Beavers and ripped a triple down the right field line. She scored on a one-out bunt by Jessica McDonald.
Emily Manahan went 3-of-4 with two runs scored in game two. Osborne was 2-of-4 with two runs and one RBI. ALLISON RADOMSKI (Cincinnati/Christian) finished 2-of-3 in the victory.
Stevie Cuttitta improved to 6-5 on the season, tossing six innings of three-run ball. She allowed six hits and did not walk a batter. KRISTIN AGAUAS (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Andover) worked a one-hit seventh to cap off the win for the Beavers.
Bluffton jumps right back into action when it welcomes #4 Ohio Northern on Thursday, April 22, 2010. The first game is slated to start at 3:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-