By Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant

The Bluffton University softball team ran into a hot-hitting Transylvania University squad on Saturday, April 2, 2011. Transylvania swept the Beavers as Bluffton dropped to 10-11 on the season and 3-3 in Heartland Conference action. Transylvania upped its record to 10-11-1 overall and 3-1 in the HCAC.

Transylvania jumped out to a 7-1 lead after just two innings in game one. The visitors pounded out three hits in the first, including a two-run homer by 2010 HCAC Player of the Year Megan Mitchell. In the second inning, Transylvania took advantage of six Beaver errors by pushing three runs across the plate without a hit. In the bottom of the second, freshman Maggie Armstrong (Vevay, Ind./Switzerland County) drove in Emily Manahan (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) with a single to right field, putting the Beavers on the scoreboard.

In the top of the third the Beavers added two more runs thanks to a homer by Shelby Erford (Paulding). Meagan Price (Toledo/Springfield) reached on a fielder's choice and moved into scoring position with a stolen base before Erford's third home run of the season made the score 7-3.

The Beavers tacked on a run in both the fourth and fifth innings, but Transylvania tallied 11 more runs for an 18-5 mercy-rule victory in game one. Freshman Kayla Owens (Cincinnati/McAuley) slipped to 4-7 after allowing 18 runs, nine earned, on 13 hits in 4.2 innings of work.

Tiffany Buckmaster (Lima/Bath) went 2-of-2 at the dish. Erford finished the first contest 1-of-3 with two RBI. Mitchell and Michelle Ladanyi combined to go 6-of-8 with eight RBI.

Bluffton took a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Shelby Erford launched a home run to start game two. Bluffton managed just six hits the rest of the way while Transylvania racked up single runs in the first, third and fourth innings before two tallies in the sixth propelled the visitors to a 6-2 victory over the Beavers.

Manahan and Alison Radomski (Cincinnati/Christian) both smacked two hits for the Beavers following Erford's homer. Stevie Cuttitta (Columbiaville, Mich./Clio) took the loss after allowing six runs, three earned, on nine hits in seven innings on the mound.

The Beavers continue action at home on Tuesday, April 5, against HCAC rival Manchester College. The first contest with the Spartans is slated for 3:30 p.m.