By Cort Reynolds
ELIDA - The visiting Bluffton softball team defeated Elida 7-3 in a non-league contest Monday evening.
The Lady Pirates improved to 3-1 with the victory, while Elida fell to 4-1 with their first defeat.
Bluffton pitcher Libby Schaadt ran her record to 3-1 with a complete-game four-hitter. She allowed three earned runs and struck out seven over seven innings to earn the win.
The Pirates scored two runs in the top of the fourth to break up a scoreless game. Bluffton then added three more runs in the fifth frame to build a 5-1 cushion.
Elida edged within 5-3 with a two-run sixth, but the Pirates responded with two big insurance runs in the top of the seventh to rebuild the margin to four.
Schaadt then shut out the Bulldogs in the home seventh to finish off the win.
Bluffton out-hit Elida 7-4 and took advantage of seven errors by the home team.
Madison Fleece led the victorious offense with a double and single. Averey Rumer knocked in a run and collected two singles.
123 456 7 R H E
Blf 000 230 2 7 7 1
Eli 000 102 0 3 4 7
WP-Schaadt (3-1) LP-K. Baker
2B-Fleece (B)
HR-A. Smith (E)
Bluffton is slated to open Northwest Conference play Thursday at home vs. Ada (2-1).
