March 17, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
ALBION, Mich. - The Bluffton University softball crew hit the road to face off against Albion College in their first series since returning from Florida. After a 5-4 defeat in the lidlifter, the Beavers had an offensive explosion in game two to come out victorious, 8-1, for a split. Bluffton moved to 3-9 on the season, while Albion is now 7-9.
After the visiting Beavers were unable to score with bases loaded and no outs in the top of the first, a two-run bottom by the Brits put the home team up 2-0. Bluffton tied the game up in the top of the third after an error by Albion scored JOSIE McELROY (Mt. Orab/Western Brown) and BRITTANY HUFF (Clayton/Northmont).
The home team went ahead in the bottom of the inning after an RBI-single made it 3-2. The Britons scored a pair of runs in the fourth to increase their lead to 5-2. Bluffton notched a run in the top of the fifth after Josie McElroy smacked a solo shot which cut the gap to 5-3. The Beavers came up with another run in the seventh, but the comeback bid fell just short in a 5-4 loss.
Collecting three hits was MAKENZIE SCHMIDT (Caledonia/River Valley) who led the way for Bluffton. Brittany Huff added two safeties with a run and Josie McElroy recorded a pair of hits, scored three times and had an RBI.
Taking the loss was Jessie Madzia (Massillon/Tuslaw) who dropped to 1-4 on the season. Allowing four runs on eight hits, the senior fanned three batters but walked five in her 6.0 innings of work.
The Beavers jumped right back into action and struck first in the top of the first after an error by Albion scored Makenzie Schmidt. Bluffton tallied another run in the second inning when an RBI by CHELSEA ZOLTOWSKI (Sylvania/Southview) put the score at 2-0.
After two scoreless frames, Bluffton exploded for three runs in the fifth following a 3-run dinger by Josie McElroy (3rd of the season) put the Beavers up 5-0. The visitors added a pair of runs in the sixth thanks to an RBI double by Brittany Huff and a run-scoring single by McElroy.
The Britons were finally able to get on the board after an RBI single made the score 7-1 heading into the final inning. Bluffton tacked on one more run in the seventh for a 8-1 lead which became the final when Albion went down without a whimper in the home half.
Josie McElroy had a game, smacking three hits with a dinger while driving in four runs. Also coming up big was MERCEDES BURNS (Ashtabula/Edgewood) who rapped three hits in the victory. COURTNEY JASINSKI (Englewood/Northmont) and Makenzie Schmidt each went 2-for-4 in game two.
Earning the victory with her complete-game effort was NICOLE THOMAS (Tontogany/Otsego) who allowed just one run on five hits while walking a batter and notching a strikeout.
Next up for Bluffton is the home opener on Sunday, March 18, when they welcome Heidelberg at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader. Come out and support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
