By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School varsity softball team lost to visiting Delphos Jefferson 14-3 in a Northwest Conference makeup game Friday evening, April 29.

DJ plated six runs in both the second and seventh innings to upset Bluffton.

The Wildcats led 8-0 after three frames. The Pirates scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the sixth to inch within 8-3. But then DJ put the game away with six more runs in the seventh.

Jessa Rostorfer slammed a two-run homer in the seventh, and also doubled for the Wildcats.

Lillian Baughn hammered a two-run homer in the top of the fourth for DJ.

The Pirate girls fell to 8-6 overall and 3-2 in the NWC with the defeat. Jefferson improved to 4-10 and 2-4 in the NWC with the victory.

Lauren Swartzlander suffered the pitching loss for the Pirates. She had one of the nine Bluffton hits.

Dyllan Worcester and Olivia Matthews knocked out two singles apiece for Bluffton. 

Senior catcher Sophie Bricker compiled two hits and one run batted in.

Riley Busch legged out an RBI triple in the three-run Pirate sixth inning. Addie Businger added a single.

Delphos smacked two doubles, two triples and two homers among their 10 hits. Rostorfer knocked in three runs with a pair of extra base hits. Southpaw Kendall Schrader earned the pitching win for Jefferson. 

Hannah Joseph tripled and singled for DJ. Maddie Weitzel slugged an RBI double. Kyrstin Moore hammered a run-scoring triple. Jefferson also took advantage of seven Pirate errors.

   123 456 7 R   H  E

DJ 060 200 6 14 10 2

Blu 000 003 0 3 9 7

WP-Schrader LP-Swartzlander (0-2)

2B-Rostorfer (DJ), Weitzel (DJ)

3B-Busch (B), Joseph (DJ), Moore (DJ) 

HR-Baughn (DJ), Rostorfer (DJ)

The Pirates entertain defending Northwest Conference champion Lincolnview (14-3, 4-1 NWC) Saturday, April 30.

Bluffton then hosts Columbus Grove (8-5, 2-2 NWC) in a league battle Monday, May 2.