By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School softball team lost a home doubleheader to hard-hitting Liberty-Benton on Saturday, April 11.

The Eagles took game one 10-5, and also won the nightcap handily, 14-1.

The Pirate girls dropped to 2-4 with the losses. L-B improved to 7-4 after the wins.

The Eagles jumped ahead with five runs in the first inning of game one, then added four in the second to build a 9-0 lead. 

Bluffton rallied to score three runs in the home second, but the Eagles tallied a run in the third to lead 10-3. The Pirates managed to push two runs across home plate in the seventh, but came up five short.

Peyton Worcester slapped three singles, scored a run and drove in one to pace the Pirate offense. She also pitched all seven innings, giving up 16 hits and seven earned runs. She struck out four and walked four in the loss.

Catcher Karleigh Davis singled, had one RBI and drew a walk.

Camryn Fruchey scored two runs and walked twice. Evelyn Boyles singled and drew two walks. Macy Schaadt hit a single, walked and scored a run. Elana Navaaro coaxed a walk and scored one run. 

L-B out-hit Bluffton, 16-6. The Eagles scored three unearned runs with the aid of five errors.

Carley Schwab singled four times and scored two runs for L-B. Kylie Modd hit three singles and scored three runs. Lauren Erdeljac doubled in a run and singled. Elise Brzezinski hit a double, singled and drove in two runs.

Alexis Walker earned the win with 4.7 innings of one-run relief. She struck out four, walked four and allowed three hits.

L-B left 13 runners on base, while Bluffton stranded nine.

In game two, the Pirates led 1-0 after the first frame as Schaadt tripled home Greta Myers. But it would be their lone run. 

L-B answered with two runs in the second and three more in the third to go in front, 5-1. The Eagles then poured it on with five runs in the fifth. The visitors tacked on four more scores in the sixth to invoke the 10-run mercy rule.

L-B pounded out 20 hits to just two by the Pirates in the nightcap.

Bluffton hurler Haelee Rayle pitched the first five frames. She allowed 17 hits and nine earned runs with one whiff and a walk. Pirate Dennis relieved and threw the final inning, giving up three hits and four runs.  

Navarro singled for the second Pirate hit.

Eagle hurler Megan Gerken earned the win with a six-inning complete game effort. She struck out eight and walked none. She gave up just two hits and one earned run.

At the plate, Gerken was a perfect 5-5 with a double and one RBI. Walker batted 3-3 with three runs and a walk.

Schwab knocked out three hits with two RBI and a pair of runs. Taylor Shaw doubled, singled and drove in two. Erdeljac doubled home a run and scored once. Brzezinski also doubled again, had two RBI and scored a run.

The Eagles stole six bases and smacked five doubles, while Myers swiped one bag. Walker and Schwab each stole two bases.

L-B left 10 runners on base, while Bluffton stranded only one.

The Pirate girls play at non-league foe McComb (5-3) on Tuesday. Bluffton (1-0 NWC) then hosts solid Delphos Jefferson (8-4, 1-0 NWC) in a conference game Thursday.

GAME ONE

WP-Walker LP-Worcester

2B- Brzezinksi (LB), Erdeljac (LB)

GAME TWO

WP-Gerken LP-Worcester

2B-Modd (LB), Brzezinksi (LB), Erdeljac (LB), Shaw (LB), Gerken (LB)

3B-Schaadt (B)