March 23, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball squad took to its home field to face off against the Alma College Scots on a cold Friday, March 23. A two hour and 40 minute first game kept the teams from getting through the required five innings in the second as darkness won out. The Beavers rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the first inning, but Alma scored six times in the sixth and four more in the seventh en route to an 18-9 victory. Bluffton slipped to 4-11 on the season, while the Scots improved to 12-5 overall.
Alma would strike quickly, scoring five unearned runs in the top of the first to take an early lead on Bluffton. The Beavers answered in the bottom of the inning with a two-run blast down the left field line by JOSIE McELROY (Mt. Orab/Western Brown), cutting the gap to 5-2.
The home team picked up another run in the bottom of the third with a laser shot to center by BRITTANY HUFF (Clayton/Northmont). After the teams exchanged runs in the fourth, the Beavers tied the score at 8-8 with a four-run fifth.
The Scots then exploded for six runs in the sixth inning and four more in the seventh for a commanding 18-8 spread. A McElroy RBI made the final score 18-9 when the dust settled in game one.
Bluffton pounded out 12 hits, but the Scots topped the home team with 17 safeties. Leading the way for the Beavers was Josie McElroy who went 2-for-3 with four RBI and two walks while launching her sixth homer of the season. MAKENZIE SCHMIDT (Caledonia/River Valley) added three hits, two stolen bases and two runs while Brittany Huff and Chelsea Zoltowski (Sylvania/Southview) chipped in with two hits apiece.
Taking the loss was NICOLE THOMAS (Tontongany/Otsego) who allowed 10 runs, five earned, on 11 hits. The senior tossed 98 pitches and walked three batters while striking out one. ALEXIS MONTEMARANO (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark) surrendered eight runs, just three earned, on six hits in her 2.0 innings of work.
The Beavers jump right back into action on Saturday, March 24, when they travel to Adrian College with a first pitch set for 1 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
