April 11, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - After several postponed games, the Bluffton University softball squad was finally able to hit the field to take on the Anderson University Ravens in a doubleheader on a mild Wednesday, April 11. The Beaver offense was outmatched in game one as they dropped a 12-2 decision in six innings. Senior BRITTANY HUFF (Clayton/Northmont) notched six RBI in the second contest en route to a 10-8 victory. The split puts Bluffton at 7-16 overall and 2-4 in HCAC play.
The Ravens scored four runs right out of the gate in the first inning. Bluffton responded with a Brittany Huff solo shot to right center, making it a 4-1 ballgame. Another Anderson run in the top of the fourth pushed the score to 5-1. After a scoreless fifth, the Ravens poured in seven runs in the top of the sixth to take a commanding 12-1 lead on the Beavers. Bluffton put up a run in the bottom half after a COURTNEY JASINSKI (Englewood/Northmont) RBI made it 12-2, but that was all the home team could muster as AU took game one in six innings by a 12-2 margin.
Going a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate was JESSIE MADZIA (Massillon/Tuslaw). KELSEY REEDER (Galion/Northmor) added a hit for the Beavers. Senior JOSIE McELROY (Mt. Orab/Western Brown) drew a pair of walks in game one.
Dropping to 1-8 on the year, Jessie Madzia allowed seven runs, three earned, off seven hits. Madzia struck out four batters while walking two.
Anderson would get the second game of the afternoon started with a pair of runs in the top of the first to lead the game early. The Beavers evened the game up at 2-2 after Brittany Huff roped a two-run double to left center.
A run by the Ravens in the top of the second made the score 3-2, but Bluffton answered in the bottom of the inning when Brittany Huff crushed a grand slam off the scoreboard in left center following another walk to McElroy as the Beavers took a 6-3 advantage.
After Anderson put up a run in the top of the fourth, a Courtney Jasinski RBI single to right field put Bluffton up, 7-4. The Ravens would score a run in the top of the sixth, but Bluffton answered with a Josie McElroy single to make it an 8-5 ballgame. It also marked career hit number 174 for McElroy, moving her to top of the Bluffton's all-time hits list! An RBI double by Courtney Jasinski picked up Brittany Huff, putting the Beavers up 9-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning. The home team was not done as a CAYLIN MORSTADT (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) single that sneaked through the left side scored another run for Bluffton.
In the top of the seventh, the visitors were able to strike with three runs, but the tenacious Beaver squad held off the Ravens as Bluffton secured a 10-8 victory when the visitors left the sacks full.
Leading the charge at the plate was Brittany Huff who went 3-for-4 with three runs and a whopping six RBI. Courtney Jasinski added three hits as well, accounting for a run and a pair of RBI. Junior Kelsey Reeder and senior Josie McElroy each collected two hits and two runs for the victors.
Picking up the win and moving to 5-6 on the season was NICOLE THOMAS (Otsego/Tontogany) who allowed eight runs off 18 hits in her complete-game effort.
Next up for the Beaver softball crew is a pair of road contests against the Franklin College Grizzlies on Friday, April 13. The double-header matchup is set to start at 3:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
