March 9, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
Westminster Stats I Webster Stats
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Bluffton University softball squad took to the field to face off against the Westminster College Titans in the first game of the day and the Webster University Gorloks in game two. The Titan offense was too much as they defeated Bluffton 9-5. A 15-3 loss in game two against Webster was wrapped up in five innings with the Beavers finishing off their week at Kissimmee with a 2-8 mark.
Westminster got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, posting a six-spot for 6-0 lead after one frame.. The Beavers came right back with two tallies in the top of the second after an RBI ground ball by TAYLOR STEINKE (Findlay) scored COURTNEY JASINSKI (Englewood/Northmont) from third. A run-scoring single by MAKENZIE SCHMIDT (Caledonia/River Valley) made it a 6-2 deficit.
The Beavers continued to chip away with two runs two runs following a Courtney Jasinski single and one more thanks to a MEGAN HILL (Arcadia) double, cutting the gap to 6-5 before Westminster brought in their ace who earned a win over Rhodes earlier in the day.
Two runs by the Titans pushed it to 8-5 as the teams headed into the fifth inning. Westminster tacked on a score in the sixth and Bluffton was unable to muster any offense after Jazmyn Rohrer took over in the circle as the Titans evened up their record at 5-5 with the 9-5 victory.
Continuing to impress at the plate was Courtney Jasinski who went 2-for-3, scoring a pair of runs and knocking home a couple. BRITTANY HUFF (Clayton/Northmont) and Megan Hill added two hits apiece, including a double for each.
KATIE MCCORD (Lawrenceburg, Ind./Lawrenceburg) took the loss, dropping her first decision of the year. The freshman struggled with control, going 2.1 innings and allowing six runs off eight hits while walking three. Working the final 3.2 innings, NICOLE THOMAS (Tontogany/Otsego) allowed just two runs off seven hits.
Following a 40-minute break, the Beavers were back in action to play Webster University from St. Louis. Bluffton again fell behind quickly as the Gorloks scored two runs in the top of the first. A solo homer ignited a six-run second inning for Webster, making it 8-0 heading to the bottom of the frame.
Bluffton finally cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the third after Courtney Jasinski doubled down the left-field line to score a pair of runs. The Beavers would add another run when JOSIE McELROY (Mt. Orab/Western Brown) singled home Jasinski. The fourth inning belonged to the Gorloks as they exploded for seven runs, highlighted by a TERRI DEARTH grand slam. Bluffton was unable to get any closer as the Beavers dropped a 15-3 decision in five innings.
KELSEY REEDER (Galion/Northmor) was the lone Beaver to get multiple hits as the junior broke out of her early-season slump. Also contributing for Bluffton were Courtney Jasinski who drove in two runs and Josie McElroy who notched a hit and an RBI.
On the mound for Bluffton was ALEXIS MONTEMARANO (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark) who dropped to 0-1 on the season. The sophomore tossed 1.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits with a walk. Nicole Thomas fanned two batters in her 2.0 innings of work and gave up three earned runs off three Gorlok hits.
The Beavers will head back home and get set to play Otterbein at 3:30 p.m. in their home opener on Wednesday, March 14 before welcoming Heidelberg the following day at 3 p.m. Come out and support Bluffton as they kick off their season in Ohio!
-BEAVERS-
