BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with six runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal a split on Wednesday, March 12, 2025! Bluffton moves to 6-6 on the season with its sixth straight split to open the season, while Heidleberg now stands at 6-4 overall.
With the Beavers trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning in game one, Hayley Lewis (Kettering/Fairmont) followed back-to-back doubles from juniors Riley Hammonds (Russia) and Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) with an RBI single to center that cut the deficit in half (4-2).
Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) picked up Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) with an RBI groundout in the fifth, but the Student Princes added six more tallies for a 10-3 victory in the lidlifter.
Grant found her stroke, going 3-of-4 with an RBI and run scored. Hammonds, Lewis and Tegeder all chipped in with two safeties.
Lewis dipped to 2-3 after surrendering four runs on two hits with four walks in two-thirds of an inning.
The visitors scored two runs apiece in the first three innings on the way to comfortable 6-0 lead that held until the bottom of the fifth when Taryn Hampton's (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) fielder's choice sent Reagen O'Brien (Bellbrook) scurrying home.
A leadoff walk to Hampton followed by a one-out Heidelberg error with Grace Gronberg (Danville) at the dish set the stage for one of the most improbable comebacks in Bluffton softball history. Grant walked to load the bases and sophomore Ella McCombs (Springfield/Southeastern) made it 6-2 courtesy of a wild pitch. McCartney nearly got it over the head of the center fielder, but her sacrifice fly scored pinch runner Aubrey Hudson (Bellefontaine) and the score was 6-3 as the Beavers were down to their last out.
O'Brien came through with a two-run single to right center before Tegeder's two-bagger to center knotted the game at six runs apiece. Kayleigh Michael (Eaton/National Trail) nursed her seeing eye single up the middle as Tegeder scored the game winner for a 7-6 Bluffton victory!
Tegeder went 4-of-4 out of the eight hole and she was right where the Beavers needed her to be when it was her turn at the plate! McCartney smacked three hits, while O'Brien went 2-of-3 with two ribbies and two runs scored. Michael added a pair of safeties as the Beavers just beat nightfall at the same time that they knocked off the Student Princes!
Colleen Meese (Rocky River) struggled to find her groove early on, but the sophomore never gave in. She allowed six runs, all through the first three innings, on eight hits with six walks and two strikeouts in a complete game victory that saw her record improve to 2-0 on the season!
The Beavers will have a quick turnaround as weather projections for the weekend have pushed their double-dipper at Capital up to Friday, March 14, 2025. Game one is slated for 3:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
