The Bluffton University softball team is looking forward to a 'normal' season after a 2020 campaign that was limited to 10 games and a 2021 that consisted of a Heartland Conference-heavy slate. Bluffton will have a new face at the helm as Paige Jansen is in her first year leading the Beavers. Also new to the Bluffton coaching staff is Libby Crow, a recent Tiffin University graduate.

Although the Beavers will be without the services of six 2021 seniors, Bluffton returns a wealth of experience, especially behind the dish. Junior Bobbi Adams (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes), a First Team All-Heartland Conference selection last year, was named Third Team All-Central Region by the NFCA. Adams hit a team-high .416 which is 11th all-time for a single season at Bluffton and she led the team with 24 RBI, 42 hits, a .594 slugging percentage and a .459 on-base percentage.

Lily Tate (Galion/Northmor) has been a fixture at shortstop the past two seasons. She hit .297 with a team-best 14 runs scored and 12 walks as a sophomore in 2021. Tate started all 33 games for the Beavers last year. Fellow junior Erin Norman (Pleasant Hill/Newton) tossed 79.2 innings and fired a team-best 42 strikeouts after posting a miniscule 0.84 ERA as a freshman in 2020. Grace Fillinger (Hinckley/Highland) has also been a key starter in the circle the past two seasons.

Senior Taylor Shimp (St. Marys/Memorial), junior Sydney Zinkon (Fresno/Ridgewood) and sophomore Kryshel Dales (Defiance/Ayersville) bring back valuable experience in the infield, while Lexus Rutledge (Henderson, KY/Henderson County) and Marissa Auvil (North Canton/Hoover) both showed off their range in the outfield and speed on the basepaths last season. Katie Fleshman (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) adds to Bluffton's depth on the bump and she is the third Hayes standout to grace Bluffton's roster, following all-time great Caylin Morstadt and Bobbi Adams.

Bluffton will be back in Florida to kick off the 2022 season after a one-year hiatus in 2021. The Beavers will play 10 times at The Spring Games, including matchups with regional rivals OWU, St. Mary's (Ind.) and John Carroll. Following three weeks of non-league action back north, Bluffton welcomes Rose-Hulman for the Heartland Conference lidlifter on Saturday, April 2. Rival Defiance College comes to town on Wednesday, April 27, before the regular season wraps up with a trip to HCAC-favorite Transylvania on Saturday, April 30.

-BEAVERS-