By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School varsity softball team finished strong late to end its league regular season schedule with a 7-2 win at local rival Allen East Saturday afternoon.

The Pirate girls improved to 10-8 overall and finished a very respectable 5-3 in the NWC with their comeback victory. 

AE dropped to 9-11 overall and 2-5 in the NWC with the defeat.   

Bluffton trailed 2-0 after Lady Mustang hurler Nikki Thaxton slugged a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning.

The Pirates tied it with two runs in the top of the third inning. The teams battled into the sixth with the score still knotted up at 2-2.

The Lady Pirates then blew the game open with a five-run sixth frame and went on to post the win. 

Winning pitcher Hannah Davis held AE scoreless over the last five innings to earn her 10th win.

She struck out six Mustangs, walked none and allowed five hits. Davis lowered her season earned run average to 2.87.

Davis also smacked a two-run double to aid her own cause.

Riley Busch hit a double, singled and drove in three runs to lead the Pirate offense.

Senior catcher Sophie Bricker slapped two hits and knocked in a run. Olivia Hobensack and Ashley Fleece each contributed two hits, while Lauren Swartzlander added a single. 

Bluffton out-hit AE, 10-5. The Mustangs committed one error to three miscues by the Pirates.

Hannah Williams hit a double for AE. Aubrey Young, Alex Rodriguez and Audrey Rex added a single apiece.

      123    456    7    R       H      E

Bluf    002    005    0    7    10    3               

AE    020    000    0    2    5    1

WP-Davis (10-6)     LP-Thaxton   

2B-Busch (B), Davis (B), Williams (AE)

HR-Thaxton (AE)   

Arch-rivals Lincolnview and Crestview shared the NWC title at 7-1. Bluffton is assured of finishing no lower than fourth, and could end up as high as third, depending on how Leipsic (4-2 NWC) fares in its last two league games.