By: Ethan Stearns, sports information assistant
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Bluffton University softball team played two of its final four games in Florida on Thursday, March 9, 2023, dropping the first matchup with Emmanuel (Massachusetts) before winning a thriller of a game in the nightcap against Penn State Brandywine. Bluffton stands 5-3 heading into the final day of its 10-game Florida slate.
The two teams locked into a defensive battle through most of the game as no runs were scored in five of the seven innings. All of the action came in the third and fourth innings. The Beavers took a 2-0 lead in the third behind a single from Bobbi Adams (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) that plated Kryshel Dales (Defiance/Ayersville) and Kayleigh Michael (Eaton/National Trail).
Emmanuel bounced right back with four runs in the top of the fourth and that was all the visitors on the scoreboard would need as the Saints made them stand up for the 4-2 victory.
Adams continued her hot start in the batter's box, lacing a single to left center that drove in both Bluffton runs in the lidlifter. Mia McCartney (North Baltimore), Julia Tegeder (Hamilton), Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee), Dales and Michael all added hits to the game-one effort.
Erin Norman (Pleasant Hill/Newton) took her first loss on the season (3-1) as she pitched the entire game. Norman struck three batters out and allowed only one free pass and seven hits.
The Bluffton squad trailed Brandywine 3-1 after four innings. Pinch-runner Taylor Born (Mt. Cory/Cory-Rawson) crossed the dish thanks to a Riley Hammonds (Russia) RBI groundout in the fourth.
Hammonds plated another tally in the sixth after taking a base on balls that pushed Hayley Lewis (Kettering/Fairmont) across the dish, making the score 3-2 going into the final frame and setting up for a storybook ending.
McCartney stepped up to the plate with her team down by a run and Lexus Rutledge (Henderson/Henderson County) on first thanks to a Lion miscue. She made the most out of her opportunity and coolly launched a two-run homer over the right field fence to put the Beavers up, 4-3. Senior Grace Fillinger (Hinckley/Highland) worked around a two-out error to put an exclamation mark on McCartney's heroics.
Hammonds and McCartney drove in two runs apiece. Adams went 3-of-4 at the plate and Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) notched two hits of her own.
Fillinger was outstanding in the circle, moving to 2-1 on the season. She allowed three runs, but none earned, on just six hits with four strikeouts.
Bluffton will beack at Auburndale for its final day in Florida on Friday, March 10. Game one with Edgewood is slated for 9 a.m.
-BEAVERS-