WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Bluffton University softball team flipped the script on Monday, March 3, 2025, winning an exciting game one before dropping an 11-1 decision to Saint Mary's of Minnesota in the nightcap. Bluffton moved to 3-3 on the season thanks to a 4-3 victory over Wentworth in the Monday lidlifter.
The Leopards put together three hits in the first inning, including a ground-rule double, en route to a 2-0 lead over the Beavers. An inside-the-park homer for junior Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) in the fourth cut the deficit in half, but back-to-back doubles for the home team on the scoreboard made it 3-1 going to the fifth inning.
The Beavers saved their best for last, throwing up a three-spot in the top of the seventh. Taryn Hampton (Fostoria/Hopewell-Louden) got the party started with ground-rule double to left. An infield single for fellow sophomore Ella McCombs (Springfield/Southeastern) put runners on the corners. Freshman Grace Gromberg (Danville) made it 3-2 with her sacrifice fly to right. Another infield single for Halee McDade's (Oxford/Talawanda) put runners on the corners with one out. Senior Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) followed with a two-run two-bagger down the left field line that put Bluffton up 4-3!
Senior Hayley Lewis (Kettering/Fairmont) needed just four batters to close it out, picking up her first win of the season. She struck out two and walked one across two innings of relief. Sophomore Colleen Meese (Rocky River) tossed five superb innings, allowing just three runs on eight hits with six walks while keeping the Beavers within striking distance in her first start of the season.
McCartney, who drove in two runs, including the game-winner, and McCombs both rapped two hits in game one.
Game two saw Saint Mary's College put up nine runs in the top of the first on the way to a 11-1 mercy-rule victory. Six walks and five hits gave the visitors on the scoreboard a huge lead before the Beavers stepped to the plate. The Cardinals tacked on solo runs in the second and third, making it 11-0 before Bluffton broke through with its lone tally in the fourth frame. Grant singled home McCartney, but the Beavers came out on the wrong end of the 11-1 decision.
Gronberg fell to 2-2 after allowing seven runs on two hits with five walks. Lewis tossed five innings of relief, giving up four runs on seven hits with a strikeout and three free passes.
Hampton, McCartney and Grant had hits for Bluffton in game two.
Bluffton will enjoy the sights in Florida before getting back to work on Wednesday, March 5, when the Beavers take on Simmons at 2 p.m. and Bridgewater at 4:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-