By Cort Reynolds

ELIDA – Bluffton High School softball lost an extra-inning nailbiter at Elida 8-7 Monday evening, April 3.

The Pirates dropped to 2-2 after the seesaw, non-league loss.

Bluffton led 2-0 after the first inning. Elida halved the deficit to 2-1 after two frames, and it stayed that way until the bottom of the fourth.

The Lady Bulldogs tallied three runs in the home fourth to seize a 4-2 advantage. The Pirates tied it 4-4 with two runs in the top of the fifth.

But Elida answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to regain the edge.

Bluffton plated two runs in the seventh to tie it 6-6 and force extra innings.

The Pirates took the lead back with a run in the top of the eighth inning. But Elida pushed across two runs in the home eighth to walk off with two out and the win.

Bluffton was out-hit by the hosts, 13-8. Elida also left 13 runners on base to eight stranded by the Pirates. The Bulldogs hit four doubles while Bluffton smacked a pair of two-baggers.

Lauren Bassett drove in two runs with a double and a single to help lead the Pirate offense. Ashley Fleece smacked two singles, scored three runs and drove in a run. She also drew a pair of walks.

Vanessa Cross drilled a double, singled and scored a run with one RBI.  She also stole two of the six bases the Pirates swiped.

Hannah Davis knocked in two runs with a double. Olivia Hobensack walked twice and scored two runs.

Pirate starting pitcher Davis (2-2) pitched a solid complete game, hurling 7 2/3 frames. She scattered 13 hits and gave up just two earned runs as six errors hurt Bluffton.

Davis struck out six and walked two Bulldogs.

Winning pitcher Kylie Biglow hurled the last two innings in relief of Leah Ramirez, who struck out eight in six frames. Bigelow knocked out two doubles.

      123 456 78   F

BLUFFTON                200 020 21     7  

ELIDA                         010 320 02  8  

LOB--Bluffton 8, Elida 13. 

E--Lauren Bassett, Ashley Fleece (2), Olivia Hobensack, Olivia Matthews (2), Ramirez, Walters, Durham. 

2B--Lauren Bassett, Hannah Davis, Biglow (2), Hunter, Irons. 

SB--Danielle Cross, Ashley Fleece, Hannah Davis, Aubrey Edwards, Vanessa Cross (2), Hunter, Chiles, Daugherty.

PB--Addi Businger. 

BB—Danielle Cross, Lauren Bassett, Ashley Fleece (2), Olivia Hobensack

(2), Ramirez, Walters.

Pitching

BLUFFTON                    IP      H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR

Hannah Davis                7.67   13    7    2     2      6       0

ELIDA                        IP      H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR

L Ramirez                       6.0    5     4     3     5      8       0

K Biglow                         2.0    3     3    2     1       1       0

Bluffton hosts Arcadia (2-0) Tuesday evening, then visits LCC Thursday. The Pirates then travel to Liberty-Benton (1-3) for a doubleheader Saturday.