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Softball: Bluffton offense on display in mercy-rule victories over Goshen

By Evan Skilliter, sports information assistant

Game 1 stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/softball/2012/03-17-s1.htm

I Game 2 stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/softball/2012/03-17-s2.htm

A dominating day on the diamond gave the Beavers wins number nine and 10 on the season as Bluffton University's softballers swept a double-header with the Goshen College Maple Leafs, one day after being swept at home by the Alma College Scots. The win moved the Beavers' record to 10-8 on the season while the Maple Leafs dropped to 6-6 with the losses.

The Beavers wasted no time in game one, scoring two runs in the first inning after Emily Manahan (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) hit a single that scored Katie Clark (New Palestine, Ind.). Lindsay Robertson (Cincinnati/Northwestern) scored when Brittany Baker (Springboro) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The two-run second inning was followed by consecutive four-run innings. Chelsie Osborne (Chillicothe/Waverly) and Meagan Price (Toledo/Springfield) each scored on a Clark single up the middle in the second. Clark and Manahan came around following an error later in the inning, giving the Beavers a 6-0 lead after two frames.

Goshen managed one run in the top of the third, but the Beavers answered with four more tallies on three home runs in the bottom half. Shelby Erford (Paulding), Osborne and Clark all went deep as the Beavers opened a 10-1 lead. Bluffton added two more runs in fourth inning thanks to a Price bomb and the home team held the Maple Leafs scoreless in the top of the fifth, sealing the 12-1 mercy-rule victory.

Kayla Owens (Cincinnati/McAuley) earned the win in the circle. Owens pitched four innings, gave up one unearned run on two hits, and struck out three while walking none. Her record improved to 2-2 on the season.

Six Beavers racked up two hits each, including Katie Clark who drove in three runs and scored three times. Price scored three runs while she and Osborne both drove in a pair of runs.

Game two started much the same as game one. After giving up one run in the top of the second inning, the Beavers answered with two in the bottom half as pinch runner Chelsea Weitz (Dayton/Carroll) scored on an error and Alexandra Haugh made it 2-1 on an Erford RBI groundout.

The Beavers gave up two more runs in the top of the third, but answered with a big four-run bottom half. A double to left field by Robertson scored Osborne before a Haugh single up the middle plated both Robertson and Emily Kolezynski (Strongsville). Haugh came around to score on a single by Jenelle Theisen (Carleton Mich./St. Mary CC).

The Beavers pushed across four tallies in the fourth to take a 10-4 lead, then finished the game in the bottom of the sixth with two more runs for their second run-rule of the day, 12-4. Freshman Chloe Shell (Covington) pitched the Beavers to victory. The freshman went four innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out three and walking just one.

Megan Patton (Waynesfield/Perry) tossed two innings for the Beavers, giving up one earned run on three hits with a walk. Osborne paced the Bluffton offense with three hits, giving her five for the day. Haugh went 2-of-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Clark, Theisen and Baker all drove in two runs each, while Osborne and Lindsay Robertson (Cincinnati/Northwest) scored two runs apiece.

The Beavers return to the diamond next Tuesday, March 20, at Trine University. They return home on Saturday, March 24, against Olivet.

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