WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Bluffton University softball team had deja vu on day two as the Beavers dropped a 10-0 decision in the lidlifter before holding off Saint Vincent College, 12-9, in game two. Bluffton moved to 2-2 following the split on a beautiful Sunday, March 2, 2025.
Allegheny brought their bats to game one of the Gators' season, going up 8-0 before Riley Hammonds (Russia) laced Bluffton's only hit in inning three. The visitors on the scoreboard scored single runs in the fourth and fifth en route to their 10-0 mercy-rule victory Sunday morning.
Senior Hayley Lewis (Kettering/Fairmont) took the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits in 1.2 innings. She walked one and struck out two batters.
Bluffton took a quick 2-0 lead over Saint Vincent in the top of the first in game two. Halee McDade (Oxford/Talawanda) and Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) put the Beavers on top with RBI groundouts that plated Taryn Hampton (Fostoria/Hopewell Loudon) and Reagen O'Brien (Bellbrook).
A pair of two-run singles by O'Brien and McCartney an inning later made it 7-0 midway through the second frame. SVC scored a a pair of runs in the bottom of the second but a two-run base knock by freshman Grace Gronberg (Danville) pushed it to 9-2 in the third inning.
The Bears pulled within four before Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) singled home McCartney in the fourth and Gronberg picked up Hampton in the fifth for an 11-5 Beaver advantage. Saint Vincent College kept battling, putting a three-spot on the board in the fifth and a solo run in the sixth which made it 11-9 going to the final stanza.
Singles by McCartney, Kayleigh Michael (Eaton/National Trail) and Tegeder provided a valuable insurance run and Gronberg's unassisted double play on a line shot back up the middle helped the Beavers secure their second win in as many days!
Hampton had a game, going 3-of-3 with four runs scored after moving into the leadoff slot. Tegeder also rapped three hits in game two. Gronberg and McDade both smacked two safeties. Gronberg and McCartney each drove in three runs, while O'Brien, McCartney and Ella McLear (Greenville) all scored two times in the Sunday finale.
Gronberg moved to 2-1 after allowing nine runs, five earned, on eight hits in 5.2 innings of work. She walked five and struck out two. Lewis got the final four outs for her first save of the season. She walked a pair but did not allow a run.
Bluffton will play for the third consecutive day on Monday, March 3, when they Beavers tangle with Wentworth at 4:15 p.m. and Saint Mary's (Minn.) at 6:30 before an off day on Tuesday.
-BEAVERS-
