By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton varsity softball team battled hard against visiting perennial power Crestview before losing 8-6 in a Northwest Conference makeup game Friday evening.

The Pirate girls had their five-game win streak snapped with the tough defeat.

Crestview improved to 12-1 overall and stayed first in the NWC at 4-0 by winning the game between the last two unbeaten teams in league play.

The Lady Pirates fell to 5-5 overall and 2-1 in the NWC with the loss.  

The game was tied 3-3 after three innings. Lady Knight Alexis Parrish then slugged a three-run home run in the top of the fourth to give Crestview the lead for good.

The Knight girls added a single run in the fifth frame to extend its lead to 7-3.

Bluffton rallied within 7-5 by scoring two runs in the home half of the sixth.

But Crestview plated an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a solo homer by Olivia Heckler. 

Heckler then held the Pirates to one run in the bottom of the inning to preserve the win, 8-6.

Pirate senior catcher Sophie Bricker hit a pair of singles. 

Ashley Fleece hit a double, singled once and drove in two runs. Pirate sophomore Lauren Bassett knocked in two runs with one hit. Lauren Swartzlander collected one RBI on two hits.

Senior shortstop Riley Busch smacked a triple and single. Addie Businger added a single. 

Pirate hurler Hannah Davis struck out five and walked none, allowing eight hits over seven innings as her earned run average went to 2.47.

Katelyn Castle tripled and singled with one RBI for the Knights. Rylee Miller and Micaela Lugibihl each doubled in a run. Parrish knocked in three runs with her homer, while winning pitcher Heckler aided her own cause with a solo roundtripper.

Bluffton out-hit Crestview, 10-8.  

   123 456 7 R   H  E

Cvw 021 310 1 8 8 4

Blu 012 002 1 6 10 2

WP-Heckler LP-Davis (5-4)

2B-Fleece (B), Miller (C), Lugibihl (C)

3B-Busch (B), Castle (C)

HR-Parrish (C), Heckler (C)

The Pirate girls (2-1 NWC) host Northwest Conference power Lincolnview (8-2, 2-1 NWC) in a league battle for second place Monday.