April 2, 2016
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Bluffton University softball team hit the road to take on the Transylvania Pioneers in their first conference matchups of the season. The day didn’t go in the Beavers favor as they were swept, falling to 12-12 (0-2 HCAC) on the season while the Pioneers improved to 11-8 (5-1) on the year.
Game one started with Bluffton getting on the scoreboard first after sophomore BRITTANY HUFF (Clayton/Northmont) crushed a two-run homer to left, giving the Beavers a 2-0 lead in the first. Transylvania answered with a solo home run that narrowed the gap to 2-1. After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the Pioneers took a 3-2 lead thanks to a two-run double to center field.
Bluffton would manage to tie it up in the top of the fourth after a single by KELSI WILSON (Pataskala/Licking Heights) scored senior ASHLEY KNIPPEN (Wapakoneta) from second. The Beavers worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the inning. However, the Pioneers would score two runs in the sixth inning that put them up, 5-3. The Beavers picked up a tally in their final at bat, but they were unable to bring home the tying run as they lost game one by a 5-4 count.
Leading Bluffton offensively was KELSEY REEDER (Galion/Northmor) who collected three hits and crossed home plate twice. Also contributing for the Beavers were Brittany Huff and JESSIE MADZIA (Massillon/Tuslaw) who chipped in with two hits apiece.
On the mound for Bluffton was Jessie Madzia and she took the loss, falling to 3-5 after allowing all five earned runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings of work.
The second game opened up with the home team taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Transylvania extended its lead to 6-0 with the help of a three-run blast in the third. An RBI double in the bottom of the fourth made it a 7-0 ballgame. The Beavers finally got on the board after an RBI double by Kelsey Reeder scored MOLLY HABERMAN (Port Clinton), but Bluffton was unable to get going offensively as they fell in game two, 7-1.
Kelsey Reeder led the team as she went 2-for-4 with an RBI. JOSIE McELROY (Mt. Orab/Western Brown) notched a double while Molly Haberman scored the Beavers’ lone run.
Taking the loss on the mound was EMILY SCUPHOLM (Cuyahoga Falls/Our Lady of the Elms) who dropped to 7-5. Scupholm went 3.1 innings, allowing seven runs, three earned, off 11 hits while fanning three batters.
The Beavers will go out of conference for the final time when they travel to face Adrian College on Friday, April 8, before coming home for Rose-Hulman on Saturday, April 9. You can follow the action on our Twitter page @bluffton_sports.
-BEAVERS-
