By Sam Brauen www.blufftonicon.com

(SPENCERVILLE) - The host Bearcats peppered Bluffton by a 9-2 count Thursday evening in a Northwest Conference softball affair.  Spencerville took a 5-0 lead after three innings on the way to the win. 

The Pirates pushed across two runs in the top of the fifth inning, one off the bat of Averey Rumer. Rumer went 3/3 at the plate, stole two bases and scored a run. Madison Fleece was 1/1 with a run scored and Aimee Ritter had a hit for Bluffton.  The Pirates committed four errors on the night, the Bearcats three.  

Libby Schaadt allowed 8 hits and 5 earned runs while striking out 8.  Winning Spencerville pitcher Julie Mullholland also belted a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth.  

Bluffton is now 6-4 on the year.