By Mallory Kemper, sports information intern

The Bluffton University softball team split its first HCAC series of the season against Heartland Conference rival Rose-Hulman on Saturday, March 19. The Beavers lost 5-3 to the Engineers, but came back to win the second game 6-3. Bluffton stands 8-5 overall and 1-1 in the HCAC. Rose-Hulman is 1-1 in the HCAC and 5-9 overall.

Bluffton set the tone right away when Christina Hrehor (Austintown/Cardinal Mooney) walked in the second inning. Emily Manahan (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) doubled, bringing in pinch runner Paige Gerdeman (Columbus Grove) for a 1-0 lead. Allison Radomski (Fairfield/Cincinnati Christian) singled home Manahan before Meagan Price (Toledo/Springfield) drove in the third run of the game.

The Engineers took advantage in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs. Rose-Hulman banged out six hits and used a Bluffton error to rally for a 5-3 victory over the Beavers in their first HCAC contest of the season.

Freshman pitcher Kayla Owens (Cincinnati/McAuley) went four innings and gave up eight hits while slipping to 2-3 on the season. Krisitin Agauas (Bloomfield, Mich./Andover) came in to pitch the last two innings, giving up only one hit while keeping RHIT in check.

Ashley Manusos (Spring Grove, Ill./McHenry Community East) went 3-of-4 with a double while Manahan ripped a two-bagger, drove in a run and scored for the Beavers.

Bluffton saved its fireworks for a four-run first inning in the game two en route to a 6-3 victory over the Engineers.

Ashley Manusos started the spurt for the Beavers in the first inning with a two-run double following walks to Price and Radomski. Chelsie Osborne (Chillicothe/Waverly) singled and advanced to second on the throw home. Emily Manahan knocked in Osborne to end the frame with a 4-0 lead at the end of the first.

The Engineers came right back the second inning, scoring three runs with a base hit by Jenna Martinek and a Kayla Yano single sending home Rebecca Bowermaster.

The Beavers scored one run each in the fourth and sixth innings to cinch their first HCAC victory of the season. Maggie Armstrong (Vevay, Ind./Switzerland County) singled home Paige Gerdeman in the fourth and Manahan clobbered her first long ball of the year in the sixth to make the final score 6-3.

Kayla Owens (Cincinnati/McAuley) picked up the win while tossing 5.2 innings of relief, allowing only three hits to the Engineers. Manusos drove in two runs while Manahan went a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate with two RBI.

The Beavers will travel to Heidelberg University on Tuesday, March 22, 2011.The contest is slated for 3:30 p.m. in Tiffin, Ohio.