By: Ethan Stearns, sports information assistant
ALBION, Mich. - The Bluffton University softball team stole two games in back-to-back matchups with Albion College on Thursday, March 30, 2023. The Beavers outlasted Albion 2-1 in eight innings before a 7-run seventh propelled Bluffton to an 11-5 victory in game number two. Bluffton improved to 10-8 overall while Albion fell to 7-9.
The Britons hopped on the gas quickly as they scored a run in the first and would hold on to that 1-0 lead through the next five innings. Bluffton finally broke up the no-hitter with a Kryshel Dales (Defiance/Ayersville) single to left in the fifth.
After five frames of scoreless softball, senior Sammi Urban (Troy/Miami East) stepped into the box with two runners on. The Beavers needed a run in order to extend the game and Urban delivered, slapping a base knock to left field and plating Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) for the game-tying score.
Bluffton would end up sealing it in the eighth inning. Erin Norman (Pleasant Hill/Newton) drove in Ashley Kloeker (Troy) when Norman reached on a fielder's choice, creating an opening for the game-winning run!
Norman had an outstanding game, driving home the game-winning run as well as adding another amazing performance in the circle. She upped her mark to 6-3 on the season, allowing only one run on seven hits with no free passes.
Game two saw the offenses take center stage with Bluffton rallying in the seventh for an 11-5 win. The Beavers scored twice in the first, one run from a Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) single to center field and the second when Bobbi Adams (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) placed the ball perfectly in right field for an RBI double.
After allowing two runs to the Britons, the teams would go into the second all knotted up. Albion College added one in the second to take a 3-2 lead, but the Beavers rallied to tie things back up in the third, with Riley Hammonds (Russia) driving Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) home with a single.
Bluffton would not get on the board again until the sixth inning when a groundout from Urban opened things up for Kayleigh Michael (Eaton/National Trail) to score the Beavers' fourth run and pull her team within one (5-4) going into the final frame.
Bluffton blew Albion out of the water in the seventh inning, scoring seven runs and giving the Britons no chance at a comeback. The first run would come when Michael waited out a walk, giving Bryn Cisco (Lancaster/Fairfield Union) an easy stroll to home plate. Dales then took center stage and launched a single to center that scored two more runs. An error on the next play allowed Michael to scurry home.
Urban came through with a sacrifice fly to right, allowing the Beavers to score their fifth run of the inning! To cap off the amazing frame, Adams smacked a two-run single to left which put the visitors up 11-5 and left no doubt!
Adams lit things up with the bat, driving in three runs with her two hits. Dales added two of her own while going 1-of-2 at the dish. Urban tacked on to her impressive game-one performance with two more RBIs in game two.
Grace Fillinger (Hinckley/Highland) improved to 4-3 with the win, striking five batters out and allowing only two walks!
The Beavers look to continue their winning ways as they move into the next month with two games against Kalamazoo on Sunday, April 2, capping off a string of six games in Michigan over a span of just five days. Game number one is set to begin at 2 p.m.
-BEAVERS-