By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School varsity softball team defeated visiting Columbus Grove 4-2 in a Northwest Conference contest Monday evening.

The Pirate girls improved to 9-7 overall and 4-3 in the NWC with the win that stopped a two-game skid. Grove fell to 8-6 overall and 2-3 in the NWC with the defeat.

Bluffton led 2-1 after the first inning. CG tied it 2-2 with a single run in the top of the third. 

The Pirate girls regained the lead with a run in the fourth, then added an insurance tally in the bottom of the sixth.

Hannah Davis earned her ninth pitching win with six strikeouts and no walks. She pitched around five errors and allowed just two hits as she lowered her season earned run average to 3.09.

Senior catcher Sophie Bricker hit a double, single and drove in two runs to pace the Pirate offense.

Lauren Bassett contributed an RBI double.

Riley Busch hit a double, and Ashley Fleece added a single.

Bluffton out-hit Grove, 5-2. Kami Utendorf collected both Bulldog hits and took the pitching loss.

   123 456 7 R   H  E

CG 101 000 0 2 2 2

Blu 200 101 x 4 5 5

WP-Davis (9-5) LP-Utendorf

2B-Bricker (B), Busch (B), Bassett (B) 

Bluffton plays at tough Riverdale (17-2) Tuesday, then hosts local league rival Allen East (7-8, 1-3 NWC) Thursday.