CLERMONT, Fla. - The Bluffton University softball struggled in the late innings as the Beavers fell to Emmanuel (13-5) and Marian (11-7) on Monday, March 4, 2024. Bluffton stands 0-4 after day two from The Spring Games. 

The Beavers took an early 1-0 lead when a Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) single plated Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee). The Saints went up 2-1 in the bottom of the second before Grant and Kryshel Dales (Defiance/Ayersville) both touched home in the third frame for a 3-2 Beaver lead. A wild pitch saw Grant across the plate for the third time and a 4-2 Bluffton advantage in the fourth. Grant tallied one more run on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth, but 12 runs for Emmanuel in the fifth and sixth innings secured their 13-5 victory. 

Bluffton started off quickly in game two when a Tegeder single plated Grant and a Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) double scored Riley Hammonds (Russia) and Dales for a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Beavers took a 5-0 lead in the second stanza, but Marian put up eleven unanswered runs to take a commanding 11-5 lead in the sixth. Two more Beavers crossed home but it wouldn't be enough as Marian secured their 11-7 victory. 

Grant led the Beavers offensively with four runs on two hits and two walks. Katie Fleshman (Delaware/Ruthford B. Hayes) started on the rubber in game one, allowing two runs on four hits in three innings of work. Hayley Lewis (Kettering/Fairmont) picked up the loss after allowing five runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Grant powered the Bluffton offense again in game two with two runs on one hit. Lewis started game two in the circle allowing three runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings of work. Emily Hope (Enon/Greenon) took the loss in the nightcap, giving up six runs on four hits in one inning of work. 

The Beavers will be back in action on Tuesday, March 4, when they face off against Geneva at 11:15 a.m. and then Buena Vista at 1:30 p.m. Go Beavers!

-BEAVERS-