By Evan Skilliter, sports information assistant
Transy stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/softball/2012/hcac-1.htm
I Anderson stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/softball/2012/hcac-4.htm
The Beaver softball team traveled to Anderson, Indiana, on Friday, May 4, to participate in the HCAC Softball tournament. Bluffton won its first game against Transylvania, 3-2, but lost game two to regular season champion Anderson, 4-3.
The Beavers got on the board early when Meagan Price (Toledo/Springfield) scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first. Two innings later, Lindsay Robertson (Cincinnati/Northwest) and Katie Clark (New Palestine, Ind.) crossed the dish following a Jessica Kuzara (Flat Rock, MI./Huron) double to right center field, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Two-time HCAC Player of the Year Megan Mitchell hit a two-run bomb in the bottom of the fourth, making it 3-2, but Bluffton hurler Megan Patton (Waynesfield, Perry) held the Pioneers scoreless the rest of the way to secure the victory.
Chelsie Osborne (Chillicothe/Waverly) led the Beaver offense with a 2-of-3 game at the plate. Kuzara was 1-of-3 with two RBI. Patton ended the game with seven strikeouts and she allowed just two runs.
Anderson got on the board right away in game two as the hosts put up two runs in the top of the first. A walk and an error allowed the Ravens to go up 2-0. The Beavers answered in the bottom of the second when pinch hitter Natalie Nikitas (Jeffersonville, Ind.) picked up Kuzara and Robertson.
The Ravens took the lead back on a two-run homer in the top of the fifth. A Brittany Baker (Springboro) single in the sixth scored Kuzara and reduced the deficit to 4-3, but the Beavers were unable to push the tying run across as the scoreboard ended in Anderson's favor.
Kuzara had another big game at the plate as the freshman finished 2-of-3 with two runs scored. Patton took the loss, again going the distance, while allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
The Beavers will play in an elimination game on Saturday, May 5, at 11 a.m. against Manchester. The winner will move on to play Anderson at 1 p.m.
