April 26, 2012
By: Martin Kluk, sports information intern

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team had a strong showing as the Beavers swept Ohio Wesleyan 5-0 and 7-5 in a non-conference matchup on Thursday, April 26. The Beavers improved to 24-14 on the season while the Battling Bishops fell to 13-21.

In the lidlifter, Bluffton got on the board right away with a two spot in the bottom half of the first. Senior  CHELSIE OSBORNE   (Chillicothe/Waverly) hit a solo shot down the right-field line for a 1-0 lead. KATIE CLARK  (New Palestine, Ind.) then stepped to the plate and scorched a double to right center and EMILY MANAHAN (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) picked her up with a single to make it 2-0.

After a scoreless second, the Beaver bats were back at it with another pair of runs in the third frame. Much like the first inning, a double by Clark and a single by Manahan put runners on the corners. Pinch runner CHELSEA WEITZ (Dayton/Carroll) stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch that scored Clark. LINDSAY ROBERTSON  (Cincinnati/Northwest) then swatted a double for a 4-0 advantage. Bluffton tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as the pitching staff shut out the Battling Bishops for a 5-0 victory

Instrumental in the victory was the pitching of MEGAN PATTON  (Waynesfield/Perry) and KAYLA OWENS (Cincinnati/McAuley) who combined to surrender only four hits and one walk while striking out a pair. Patton improved to 9-6 with the win.

Clark went 2-of-3 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Her first two-bagger gave Clark 15 doubles for the season, eclipsing Allison Lange's school record of 14 set in 2004. Manahan was also 2-of-3 with an RBI.

The Beavers opened game two just as they did in the first contest with a pair of runs in the first inning. Senior  MEAGAN PRICE   (Toledo/Springfield) drew a leadoff walk, her school-record 24th free pass of the season, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Osborne. The hot-hitting Clark followed with a two-run bomb to give Bluffton a 2-0 lead.

As the Beaver pitching continued to dominate Ohio Wesleyan, the offense kept up its part with three more runs in the fourth and a pair in the fifth to make it 7-0. Key plays for the home team were a two-run single by Manahan in the bottom of the fourth and a RBI singles by MACKENZIE BEDLION  (Marshallville/Smithville) and SHELBY ERFORD  (Paulding) in the fifth.

Ohio Wesleyan made a game of it with two runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh before starter CHLOE SHELL  (Covington) re-entered the game and recorded the final out to seal the victory for Bluffton. Shell was masterful in the circle, tossing 5.1 innings of three-hit ball. She fanned a pair and did not issue a walk while improving to 10-5.

For the day, the Beavers produced 12 runs on 21 hits and were led by big games from Osborne, who went 3-for-7 with a home run, and Clark, who went 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles and a dinger. Manahan and Roberston also contributed with three hits each.

Bluffton wraps up the regular season at conference-rival Transylvania on Saturday, April 28, 2012. The first contest is slated for 2:30 p.m.

-BEAVERS-