By: Ethan Stearns and Tyson Speyer
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Bluffton University softball team continued their Florida campaign with two more games on Monday, Mar. 6, 2023. The Beavers defeated Northwestern (Minnesota) before a 12-1 mercy-rule victory over Mount Mary. Bluffton moved to 3-1 on the season.
Bluffton University jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead against Northwestern after scoring three in the first and five in the second and they never looked back. All the first-inning tallies came from a Bobbi Adams (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) three-run dinger to center field!
The Beavers stepped on the gas in the second inning, smacking seven hits and five tallies in the home half. Sydney Zinkon (Fresno/Ridgewood) launched a two-run single into left center, plating Kayleigh Michael (Eaton/National Trail) and Sammi Urban (Troy/Miami East). Kryshel Dales (Defiance/Ayersville), Erin Norman (Pleasant Hill/Newton) and Ashley Kloeker (Troy) all added RBIs to put Bluffton up 8-0 going into the third.
After Northwestern placed a couple in the third, Bluffton added one more run in the fourth inning off an Urban single RBI that pushed Elizabeth Crites (Findlay) across the plate, capping the 9-2 victory.
Adams went a perfect 4-of-4 with the three-run bomb. Zinkon rapped three hits of her own, adding two RBIs to the winning effort.
Norman went all seven innings in the circle, moving her mark to 2-0 while allowing only two scores with just one free pass.
The Beavers brought out the brooms Monday as they kept their hot bats rolling in a 12-1 five-inning victory over Mount Mary. The Beavers combined for 29 hits, picking up 14 in the first and 15 more in the second.
Adams led the Beaver brigade of hits with a perfect 3-of-3 showing, four RBI's and a bomb. Zinkon, Dales and Hayley Lewis (Kettering/Fairmont) kept the heat coming for the Beavers with two hits each, while Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) smacked three safeties. McCartney not only helped the Beavers with her hitting but she also led the team with three stolen bases.
Grace Fillinger, behind the help of a staunch Beaver defense, kicked off her season with a bang, finishing the game with five innings pitched. She allowed just three hits and one run while picking up the win.
The Beavers look to keep their hot streak rolling and improve on their 3-1 record when they face St. Vincent and Allegheny, both from Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, March 7 in The Spring Games from Florida. Game one is slated for 9 a.m.
-BEAVERS-