By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Host Bluffton outlasted Paulding 11-9 in an early-season Northwest Conference softball showdown of league leaders Thursday evening.

The first-place Lady Pirates improved to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in league play with the win, while the Panthers fell to 7-2 and 2-1 in the NWC after the defeat.    

Bluffton hurler Libby Schaadt improved her record to 8-1 on the strength of a complete-game effort by scattering 10 hits. She struck out one Panther and walked four. Only three of the Panther runs were earned.

Paulding led 5-1 early after Panther pitcher Haylee Dominique swatted a grand slam in the second frame. But Bluffton tied it with four runs of its own in the home second.

The Pirates inched ahead with a run in the bottom of the third before Paulding knotted it 6-6 with a run in the fourth.

Bluffton then forged ahead 11-7 heading into the final inning with five total runs in the fifth and sixth.

The Panthers plated two runs in their last at bat to cut the deficit in half, but that was as close as they would get.

Schaadt led the 13-hit Pirate offensive attack with a home run, single and three runs batted in.

Pirate Madison Fleece hit a double, singled and scored twice. Katie Prater compiled a double, single and drove in three runs.

Brinkley Garmatter collected two hits and drove home a pair of runs. Alivia Koenig singled three times and scored three runs.

Bluffton out-hit Paulding 13-10 and each team committed four errors. Seven of the Pirate runs were unearned.

    123    456    7    R    H    E    
Pau    140    110    2    9    10    4    
Blf    141    230    x    11    13    4
WP-Schaadt (8-1)    LP-Dominique        
2B-Prater (B), Fleece (B) , Egnor (P)    
HR-Schaadt (B), Stallbaum (P), Dominique (P)    

Red-hot Bluffton plays at Miller City Friday, and then hosts St. Marys in a doubleheader Saturday.