April 7, 2011

DELAWARE, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team received a pair of outstanding performances in the circle as the Beavers split a couple one-run decisions on Thursday, April 7, 2011. Bluffton moved to 13-12 on the season while Ohio Wesleyan now stands 11-7 overall.

The Beavers threatened with three hits in the first two innings of game one, but came away empty as OWU kept the visitors off the scoreboard until the fifth frame. With one down in the fifth, STEVIE CUTTITTA (Columbiaville, MI/Clio) ripped a double to right center. Pinch runner ALLISON RADOMSKI (Cincinnati/Cincinnati Christian) went to third on SHELBY WADE'S(Delaware/Buckeye Valley) fly ball to right before an infield single by MEAGAN PRICE(Toledo/Springfield) gave the visitors the only run in the contest.

Freshman KAYLA OWENS (Cincinnati/McAuley) improved to 5-7 on the season. She tossed 5.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing five hits and no free passes. Cuttitta picked up her second save of the season after keeping the shutout intact over the final 1.1 innings. She struck out one and gave up two hits.

EMILY MANAHAN (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) and Meagan Price both tallied two safeties. Price had an RBI and Radomski scored the game winner.

The home team took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two thanks to a Bluffton miscue. Two innings later, three consecutive base hits allowed the Battling Bishops to go up 2-0 over the Beavers.

Bluffton finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth despite just one single in the inning. Price walked with one out and then she stole second. Following an ASHLEY MANUSOS (Spring Grove, Ill./McHenry Community East) base knock through the left side, the visitors pulled off a double steal which saw Price cross the dish.

Cuttitta worked around a leadoff triple by Ohio Wesleyan in the bottom of the sixth, but the Beavers went down one-two-three in the seventh as OWU held on to salvage a non-conference split with Bluffton.

The Beavers managed just four hits in the loss, compared to eight safeties by the Battling Bishops. Cuttitta dipped to 5-4 despite allowing two runs, just one earned, in six innings of work. She fanned six and did not allow a walk.

Bluffton jumps back into Heartland Conference play with a trip to Hanover College on Saturday, April 9, 2011. The first contest with the Panthers is slated for 1 p.m.

-BEAVERS-