April 27, 2016
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Bluffton University softball team lost a 1-0 decision to Manchester in game one before snapping a five-game skid with a 4-1 victory over the Spartans in the nightcap. Bluffton moved to 15-21 overall and 3-11 in the Heartland Conference, while Manchester stands 19-15 and 8-8 in the HCAC.
A three-hitter by sophomore hurler Jessie Madzia (Massillon/Tuslaw) in game one went for naught when the Beavers were on the wrong end of a third straight shutout by the opposition. Madzia struck out three and did not walk a batter but Manchester made a solo homer in the third by leadoff hitter Miranda Boggs stand up in the 1-0 shutout.
Makenzie Schmidt (Caledonia/River Valley) doubled, while Kelsi Wilson (Pataskala/Licking Heights) and Josie McElroy (Mt. Orab/Western Brown) chipped in with singles for the visitors.
The Beavers broke their scoreless drought with three singles in the top of the first in game two. Madzia took things into her own hands with an RBI single to left which plated Kelsi Wilson for the 1-0 lead.
Manchester evened the score in the home half of the third, but Bluffton took the lead for good with Brittany Huff's (Clayton/Northmont) run-scoring double in the top of the fifth. Schmidt opened the inning with a base hit to center and moved to second on Wilson's sacrifice bunt.
Wilson and McElroy crossed the dish in the seventh, giving starter Nicole Thomas (Tontogany/Otsego) some breathing room and she did the rest. Thomas scattered six hits and walked just two batters while allowing one run in her complete-game victory. She improved to 4-5 on the season with the victory.
McElroy went 2-of-2 with a pair of walks, giving her a team-high three hits on the day. Wilson scored twice in game two.
Bluffton welcomes Hanover College for Senior Day and the 2016 finale on Saturday, April 30. Come out and support the Beavers as softball, baseball and track and field will all be home on Saturday with Bluffton hosting the HCAC Track and Field Championships at the newly-renovated Sears Complex! Go Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
