March 28, 2013
TIFFIN, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team came up just short in a pair of losses to Heidelberg University on Thursday, March 28, 2013. The Beavers battled back to tie both contests in the top of the sixth only to see Heidelberg use two runs in the bottom of the frame to secure the sweep.
Bluffton jumped on top 2-0 in the first inning of game one thanks to RBI singles by sophomores KATIE CLARK (New Palestine, Ind.) and ARIANA MUFFO (New Athens, Ill.), but the home team answered right back with three unearned runs in the bottom of the frame.
Heidelberg added a run in the second and two more in the third before Bluffton finally responded with four scores in the top of the sixth to tie the game. Muffo had the clutch hit, a single up the middle that got by the centerfielder and cleared the bases with one out. BRITTANY BAKER(Springboro) picked Muffo up with her fielder's choice which tied the game at six.
Three consecutive hits, including a ZACHRICH two-bagger, gave the Student Princes an 8-6 lead and when Katie Clark grounded into a double play, Heidelberg added another win to their season total.
Muffo and Clark both finished with two hits as Muffo drove in three runs. Clark scored twice in game one. Sophomore EMILY KOLEZYNSKI (Strongsville) worked two scoreless innings as Bluffton came back to tie the game, but she fell to 1-1 after allowing two runs in the sixth inning.
Bluffton broke a scoreless tie with one run in the top of the fourth in game two. Baker put the Beavers on top when her double to right center plated JESSICA KUZARA (Flat Rock, Mich./Huron).
Five Heidelberg hits in the bottom of the frame knocked starter KAYLA OWENS(Cincinnati/McAuley) out of the game as the home team went up 3-1.
SHELBY WADE (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) scored on a passed ball in the fourth before ALEXANDRA HAUGH (Highland, Ind./Andrean) knotted the game with a home run to left an inning later. However, it was deja vu for Bluffton when the home team used a Bluffton error and a long ball to make the score 5-3 heading to seventh. Three ground balls later and Heidelberg had completed its sweep of the Beavers.
In two stints on the hill in the nightcap, Owens (3-4) allowed five runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings of work. She struck out four and walked two. Kolezynski worked 1.2 scoreless innings for the visitors. Kuzara went 2-of-3 to pace the Bluffton offense.
Bluffton must leave Heidelberg in Tiffin and re-focus quickly as the Beavers host Madonna University on Good Friday, March 29. The first contest has been moved back to 3 p.m. tomorrow.
-BEAVERS-