April 25, 2010
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team received a shut down pitching performance by Stevie Cuttitta (Columbiaville, Mich./Clio) to come away with a Heartland Conference series split with Rose-Hulman on a rainy Sunday, April 25, 2010. Bluffton moved to 15-18 overall and 9-3 in the HCAC, while Rose now stands at 13-11 on the season and 8-4 in the conference
ROSE-HULMAN 5, BLUFFTON 2
Three Bluffton errors in the first three innings allowed Rose-Hulman to take a 2-0 lead with a pair of unearned runs before the home team tied the game in in the bottom of the third. Senior JAYME MARBAUGH (Ohio City/Parkway) led off the frame with a bomb down the left field line. Infield singles by SHELBY WADE (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) and TORRIE WILSON(Delphos/Jefferson) put runners on the corners and a perfectly executed double steal allowed Wade to cross the plate.
Following an hour+ rain delay, Rose-Hulman went up 3-2 in the fifth thanks to a bases-loaded walk. The Engineers tacked on two more scores in the sixth on three hits to go up by a score of 5-2. Bluffton was unable to generate any offense in the sixth or seventh as RHIT took game one.
Bluffton managed only five hits against Rose ace JORDAN GOSLEE who helped herself at the plate with three hits and one run scored. Senior BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay) slipped to 7-9 with the loss. In two stints on the mound, Babcock allowed three runs, just one earned, on eight hits over six innings.
BLUFFTON 7, ROSE-HULMAN 0
The Beavers put crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the second, third and fourth innings en route to a convincing 7-0 victory in the finale. Marbaugh singled through the left side with one out in the second and EMILY MANAHAN (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) delivered with a two-run homer to left field, her first collegiate long ball.
Sophomore JESSICA MCDONALD (Mechanicsburg) plated CHELSIE OSBORNE(Chillicothe/Waverly) with a base hit in the third. Two batters later, Manahan laced a two-run double to the wall in left center. Marbaugh and McDonald both crossed the dish for a 5-0 lead.
Shelby Wade's two bagger down the left field line in the fourth picked up TORRIE WILSON and ALLISON RADOMSKI (Cincinnati/Christian) for the final 7-0 margin.
In the circle Stevie Cuttitta was masterful, facing just two batters over the minimum in improving to 7-5 on the season. She allowed only two hits and one walk in seven innings of work.
Wade, MEAGAN PRICE (Toledo/Springfield) and Radomski all finished with two hits. Manahan went 2-of-2 with a home run, a double and four RBI. Marbaugh scored two runs for the Beavers who inched closer to a berth in the upcoming HCAC tournament.
Bluffton jumps back into HCAC action with a pair games against Anderson University on Tuesday, April 27. The first contest at Bluffton Field is slated for 3:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-