By Cort Reynolds
Visiting Bluffton posted a fifth consecutive whitewash as they shut out Lima Central Catholic 9-0 Monday evening in a non-conference softball game.
The Lady Pirates extended their win streak to 16 games with the lopsided win, and improved their season record to 17-1.
Junior hurler Libby Schaadt struck out a season-high 16 batters and walked none in seven scoreless innings. She gave up just two hits and increased her record to 15-1.
The Pirates scored two runs in the first, then broke it open with four scores in the top of the fifth. Two more runs in the sixth and one in the seventh provided the final margin of victory.
Brinkley Garmatter smacked a double and three singles to pace the 11-hit Bluffton offense. She drove in three runs and scored twice.
Sophie Bricker contributed two hits and two runs batted in. Averey Rumer collected two hits, scored two runs and stole three bases.
Riley Busch singled home two runs and Katie Prater added a hit. Mara Minnig also contributed a single.
Bluffton played error-less defense as they recorded a fifth straight shutout victory.
The T-Birds committed two errors on defense and got singles from Jaylen Roehm and Victoria Lauck. Abby Watkins scattered 11 hits in a complete-game losing effort, but she walked four and allowed eight earned runs.
123 456 7 R H E
Blf 200 042 1 9 11 0
LCC 000 000 0 0 2 2
WP-Schaadt (15-1) LP-Watkins
2B-Garmatter (B)
League leader Bluffton (6-0 NWC) had its April 25 postponed NWC game with Allen East rescheduled for Wednesday, May 8.
Bluffton were slated to host non-league foe Riverdale Tuesday, April 30.
