By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School varsity softball team lost to visiting Lincolnview 15-6 in a Northwest Conference makeup game Saturday afternoon, April 30.

The Lady Pirates trailed just 7-6 after a high-scoring first three innings.

But the defending league champion Lancers plated six runs in the fourth frame, and added five more in the fifth to pull away.  

The Pirate girls fell to 8-7 overall and 3-3 in the NWC with the defeat. Lincolnview stayed in contention for a share of the league title with the win, improving to 15-3 overall and 5-1 in the NWC.

The Lady Lancers banged out 19 hits, including six doubles and one home run. Bluffton was limited to six singles and a triple.

Olivia Matthews delivered a two-run single for Bluffton. 

Riley Busch hammered a triple for the third straight game, and added a single. 

Ashley Fleece knocked in two runs with a single. Olivia Hobensack collected two hits and one RBI. Dyllan Worcester contributed the other Pirate hit.

Winning hurler Taylor Post helped herself at the plate with a double, two singles and two RBI.

Makayla Jackman smacked four hits, including two doubles, as she drove in two runs. Braxton Sherrick crushed a home run, doubled and drove home three runs.

Kendall Bollenbacher stroked three singles and drove in one run.

Grace Brickner contributed a run-scoring double. Ashley Price also doubled, singled and had one RBI.

   123 456 7 R   H  E

Lvw 016 050 3 15 19 3

Blu 033 000 0 6 7 3

WP-Post LP-Davis (8-6)

2B-Brickner (L), Jackman 2 (L), Sherrick (L), Price (L), Post (L)

3B-Busch (B)

HR-Sherrick (L)

The Pirate girls host Columbus Grove (8-5, 2-2 NWC) in their fourth league battle in five days Monday, May 2.