HANOVER, Ind. - The Bluffton University softball team dropped a pair of games at Hanover in the Heartland Conference opener for both schools on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Bluffton fell to 10-12 overall and 0-2 in the Heartland Conference, while Hanover improved to 6-10 and 2-0 in the HCAC.

Freshman Grace Gronberg (Danville) delivered a two-run double in the second inning of game one, plating Riley Hammonds (Russia) and Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) who laced back-to-back one-out singles.

The Beavers held that margin until the bottom of the fifth when Hanover put together four hits for three runs and a 3-2 lead. The Panthers continued to rake in the sixth, scoring four more times en route to a 7-2 victory.

Hammonds and Tegeder both tallied two hits and Gronberg drove in both Bluffton runs. She fell to 4-6 on the season after surrendering seven runs on 16 hits in 5.2 innings of work. Gronberg struck out four and did not allow a walk.

Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) and Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) ripped RBI singles in the third inning of game two, putting Bluffton up 2-1. However, Hanover responded with three runs in the home half and seven more in the fourth for an 11-2 lead.

A Hayley Lewis (Kettering/Fairmont) single through the left side picked up Grant in the fifth, but Hanover closed out its 11-3 mercy-rule victory in the 2 p.m. matchup.

Grant was a perfect 3-of-3 with an RBI and run scored in game two. Freshman Tianna Galbraith (Wayne/Elmwood) went 2-of-3 at the plate.

Sophomore Colleen Meese (Rocky River) fell to 2-2 after allowing nine runs on eight hits with four walks in 3.2 innings on the bump.

Bluffton will return to Allen Country for a 3:30 p.m. meeting with Oberlin College on Wednesday, April 2.

-BEAVERS-