By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School softball team rallied late but lost its season opener 11-8 to visiting Ottawa-Glandorf Thursday evening, March 28. 

The non-league defeat dropped the Pirates to 0-1, while O-G improved to 1-1 with the win.

O-G raced to a 3-0 lead after the first inning behind five singles. The Titan girls tacked on two more runs with two hits in the second frame.

Ottawa plated three more runs in the third inning, then added two more in the fourth to build a 10-0 margin heading to the home half of the fourth.

The Pirates plated two runs in the fourth as Danielle Cross and Olivia Hobensack touched home. 

Cross singled and stole two bases to reach third base. Hobensack walked, and Lauren Bassett doubled both runners home. Adanna Johnstone singled and stole second, but the Pirates left the bases loaded.

Bluffton batted around and tallied six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally within 10-8. 

The first four Pirates who batted in the sixth reached base and scored. Bassett, Johnstone and Faith Maple led off with consecutive singles. Pitcher Haelee Rayle walked to force in a run.

With one out, leadoff batter Ashley Fleece singled home two runs. Danielle Cross reached on an error and stole a base. She and Fleece later crossed home plate to pull within 10-8.

Hobensack walked, but the rally ended on a flyout with the Pirates still trailing by two runs.

O-G added one insurance run in the seventh.

Johnstone singled to lead off the seventh and stole two bases, but was stranded at third base as the Titans held on for the three-run win.

Bluffton is slated to play at St. Marys (0-1) Saturday, weather permitting. The Pirates then host WBL foe Elida (1-1) Monday, April 1. 

The Northwest Conference opener is scheduled for Thursday, April 4 at local rival Allen East (0-3). The Mustangs dropped a 14-11 slugfest Thursday at Waynesfield-Goshen on a walk-off three-run homer by Rayne Oakes.

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