By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON __ The visiting Lincolnview baseball team nipped Bluffton High School 3-2 in a Northwest Conference pitcher’s duel Thursday night, April 25.

The Pirates fell to 3-7 overall and 1-3 in the NWC with the loss, while the Lancers improved to 10-4 and 3-0 in NWC play after the win.

Lincolnview took the early lead with a run in the top of the first inning, but the Pirates tied it with a run in the home second.

Bluffton took a 2-1 lead by pushing across another run in the bottom of the fourth.

LCC answered by scoring two runs in the top of the fifth to regain the lead for good. Neither team scored over the final two frames. 

Bluffton out-hit the Lancers, 8-6. The Pirates committed four errors that led to three unearned runs.

Pirate Tyler Cupples pitched well but took the loss. He hurled all seven innings, allowing six hits and no earned runs. He struck out two and walked none.

Bollenbacher hurled a complete game to win for the visitors. He scattered eight hits and gave up one earned run. He also struck out nine and walked one.

Left fielder Luke Jebsen doubled and singled twice to pace the Pirate offense. He also stole two bases from his leadoff spot in the order.

Landen Worcester drove in two runs with a pair of hits, and swiped a base. Kerry Wright and Evan Speicher each singled and scored a run.

Bluffton left six runners on base, while the Lancers stranded seven.

The Pirates are slated to host Arlington (3-11) in a doubleheader Saturday. They resume league play at Spencerville (2-11, 1-4 NWC) Monday, April 29.

SCOREBOARD

           1 2 3   4 5 6   7    R H E

LVW  1 0 0   0 2 0   0    3 6 1

BLU   0 1 0   1 0 0   0    2 8 4

WP-Bollenbacher LP-Cupples

2B-Jebsen (B), Bockrath (L)

The Bluffton softball team lost 29-2 to visiting Lincolnview Thursday night in a Northwest Conference game played at Bluffton University.

The Lady Pirates fell to 0-7 overall and 0-5 in the NWC with the defeat. The Lancer girls improved to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in the NWC after the win.

Ada (11-2) is first in the NWC at 4-0, a half-game ahead of Lincolnview.

The Pirates are slated to host Arlington (3-10) Saturday at 11 a.m. Bluffton resumes league play at Spencerville (3-10, 1-2 NWC) Monday, April 29.