BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team put up 23 runs in just nine innings as the Beavers swept visiting Olivet College, 10-2 and 13-0, on a cool Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Bluffton improved to 8-10 overall, while the Comets slipped to 0-4 following the sweep.
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning, Riley Hammonds (Russia) and Grace Gronberg (Danville) plated Ella McCombs (Springfield/Southeastern) and Reagen O'Brien (Bellbrook) with back-to-back grounders to first base.
The Bluffton offense struck gold an inning later as the home team batted around to the tune of six runs on six hits for an 8-1 advantage. Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) broke the ice thanks to an Olivet wild pitch. McCombs picked up Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) with another fielder's choice that did not produce any outs. Hammonds and Gronberg followed with RBI knocks before senior Kayleigh Michael (Eaton/National Trail) capped the inning with a two-run single up the middle.
Olivet crossed the dish courtesy of a wild pitch in the top of the fifth, setting the stage for an unlikely but deserving hero in senior Lindsey Barnes (Van Wert/Crestview). Gronberg led off the home half with a single to left and Michael's two-bagger to deep left center put two runners in scoring position for Barnes who promptly laced a two-run single to right that had the fans dancing in the street!
O'Brien, Gronberg and Michael all finished game one with a pair of safeties. Barnes, Hammonds, Gronberg and Michael drove in two runs apiece. O'Brien and McCombs both scored two runs for the victors.
Gronberg tossed a complete game, allowing only two runs on three hits with six punchouts and just two walks. She improved to 3-5 on the season.
Game two was over almost before it started. Bluffton dished up five runs in the first inning and seven more in the second on the way to a 13-0 victory. Tegeder and Michael delivered the big hits in the first frame, both smacking two-run singles following Kaylee Grant's (Lima/Shawnee) sacrifice fly.
Senior Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) launched a one-out triple and crossed the dish courtesy of a wild pitch in inning two. Grant scored on another wild pitch before Hayley Lewis (Kettering/Fairmont) singled home Gronberg. Taryn Hampton (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) ripped the second three-bagger of the inning, scoring Michael and Lewis before a double steal pushed it to 12-0.
Freshman Tianna Galbraith (Wayne/Elmwood) made it a baker's dozen when her sacrifice fly picked up pinch runner Hailey Lennard (North Baltimore), capping the 13-0 mercy-rule victory and sweep!
McCartney, Lewis and Michael all tallied two hits in the nightcap. Hampton, McCartney and Gronberg crossed the dish twice. Michael drove in three runs, while Hampton and Tegeder chipped in with two ribbies apiece.
Lewis upped her season mark to 3-4 with a two-hit shutout. The senior fanned five and allowed just one free pass in her complete-game victory.
The Beavers will hit the road on Thursday, March 27, for a makeup doubleheader at Albion College. Game one with the Britons is slated for 3 p.m.
-BEAVERS-