By Cort Reynolds

DELPHOS–The visiting Bluffton High School softball team won its Northwest Conference opener 5-4 in eight innings at Delphos Jefferson Monday evening, April 10.

The Pirates improved to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in the NWC with the win. DJ dropped to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the NWC after the loss.

Bluffton scored one run in the fourth and plated three more in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. Delphos tied it with three runs in the home fifth to send the game to extra innings.

The Pirates pushed across the lead run in the top of the eighth, then shut out the Wildcats in the bottom of the inning to hang on for the win.

The Pirates knocked out six hits, while the Wildcats collected seven hits.

Hannah Davis got the pitching win, hurling eight innings and striking out 10. She gave up just one earned run and seven hits, and did not walk a batter.

Davis also aided her own cause at the plate. She slugged two doubles and drove in a run.

Vanessa Cross singled, scored two runs and had two RBI. She also stole a base and walked twice.

Olivia Matthews singled and scored a run. Karliegh Davis came in late and singled, then scored.

Ashley Fleece  added the other Pirate run.

Wildcat Carolyn Mueller tripled in a run and scored a run. Jessa Rostorfer added an RBI double.

Delphos made one error, while Bluffton committed three miscues.

The Pirates left nine runners on base, while the Wildcats stranded seven.

Bluffton hosts McComb (0-4) Tuesday, then entertains undefeated local league rival Ada (8-0, 2-0 NWC) Thursday. Ada whipped Columbus Grove 11-1 Monday.

BLU          000 130 01 – 5 6 3  

DJ             001 030 00 – 4 7 1  

WP-Davis LP-Moore

LOB--BLUFFTON 9, DJ 7. 

E--Lauren Bassett, Olivia Hobensack (2), Hanna Joseph. 

2B--Hannah Davis (2), Jessa Rostofer. 

3B--Carolyn Mueller. 

SB--Vanessa Cross, Hanna Joseph.

 BLUFFTON                      IP    H    R   ER BB   SO  

Hannah Davis                  8.0    7    4    1    0      10   

 DELPHOS JEFFERSON          

Kyrstin Moore                  8.0    6    5    2    7     4   

PB--Karliegh Davis, Carolyn Mueller. WP--Kyrstin Moore.

BB--Lauren Bassett, Dyllan Worcester, Ashley Fleece, Adanna Johnstone, Vanessa Cross (2), Olivia Matthews.