By Cort Reynolds

Visiting Allen East slammed four home runs, but the Bluffton High School softball team edged the rival Mustangs 14-13 in a seesaw Div. III sectional semifinal thriller Tuesday evening, May 9.

The Mustang girls fell to 10-10 with the defeat, while the Pirates improved to an identical 10-10 mark with the narrow win.

Bluffton led 3-0 early, but AE put together a seven-run third inning to take the lead. 

The Pirates inched within 7-5 after three frames.

The Mustangs scored two runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth frames. But the Pirates tallied three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth inning.

After AE tied it 13-13 with two runs in the top of the sixth, Bluffton pushed across the final tie breaking score with a single run in the home sixth.

Bluffton then held the Mustangs without a run in the seventh inning to preserve the one-run lead and win.

Olivia Hobensack collected four hits, including a triple, and scored three runs to lead the potent Pirate offense.

Faith Maple hit a double and two singles. Danielle Cross hit a double and two singles, plus scored two runs and drove in a pair. Ashley Fleece had two hits and scored two runs.

Lauren Bassett slammed a double, singled, scored four runs and drove in two runs.

Pirate Hannah Davis struck out six and gave up 17 hits with 11 earned runs yet earned the win. Davis also hit a double and singled.

AE slugged four home runs in defeat. Senior pitcher Nikki Thaxton slammed two homers and drove in three runs. She also pitched the first 4 2/3 innings, allowing 12 hits but only four earned runs. She struck out four.

Mustang slugger Maggie Wanamaker hammered a home run and drove in two runs. She took the pitching loss with 1 1/3 innings of relief. She gave up two runs and five hits.

Taylor Nickles smacked four of the 17 AE hits, and scored a run with one RBI. Catcher Savana Brooks smashed a homer and had three RBI with two runs scored.

Aubrey Young contributed a triple, two singles one run and one RBI.

The Mustangs left seven runners on base while the Pirates stranded eight. AE made six errors, while Bluffton committed five miscues in the wild game.

Bluffton out-hit the Mustangs in the wild contest, 18-17.

AE    007 222 0 –  13 17 6 

BLU 302 351 x -  14 18 5

WP-Davis LP-Wanamaker

LOB--ALLEN EAST 7, BLUFFTON 8. 

ERR--S Brooks, H Williams, Thaxton, A Prowant, H Rex (2), Dyllan Worcester (2), Hannah Davis, Adanna Johnstone (2). 

2B—Prowant (AE), Danielle Cross, Lauren Bassett, Hannah Davis, Faith Maple. 

3B—Ayoung (AE), Olivia Hobensack. 

HR--Brooks, M Wanamaker, Thaxton (2).

SB--Prowant, Ashley Fleece.

 ALLEN EAST                    IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR

Thaxton                        4.67  13   12    4    1    4    0

M Wanamaker                    1.33  5    2    2    1    0    0

 BLUFFTON                   

Hannah Davis                   7.0   17   13   11    2    6    4

PB--Karliegh Davis. 

WP--M Wanamaker (2), T Thaxton (3).

BB--Thaxton, E Miller, Ashley Fleece, Karliegh Davis.