By Cort Reynolds

SPENCERVILLE __ The visiting Bluffton High School softball team defeated Spencerville 13-7 in a Northwest Conference slugfest Monday evening, April 29.

The Pirate girls improved to 1-8 overall and 1-5 in the NWC after earning their first win. They slugged a season-high 21 hits in the victory.

The Bearcats fell to 3-11 overall and 1-3 in the NWC with the defeat. 

Bluffton scored two runs in each of the first four innings to build a commanding 8-0 lead.

Spencerville got on the board with single runs in the fourth and fifth frames to inch within 8-2.

The Pirates responded with a four-run top of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Bluffton added a run in the seventh, while the Bearcats belatedly pushed five runs across the plate in their final two at bats.

Slugging Lauren Bassett led Bluffton with four hits, five runs batted in and two runs. She cranked two doubles and stole a base as well.

Catcher Karleigh Davis smacked a double and stroked three singles. She scored three runs and drove in two. 

Shortstop Ashley Fleece singled three times, scored three runs and stole a pair of bases.

Olivia Hobensack drilled a double and three singles. She also scored two runs and had two RBI, plus swiped two bags.

Greta Myers and Adanna Johnstone each stroked two singles. Johnstone added an RBI, and Myers stole a base. Emma Green legged out an RBI triple.

Danielle Cross singled and scored a run. Faith Maple added a run and an RBI.

King and Baumgartner each rapped three hits for the Bearcats. Wannemacher hit two doubles.

The Pirate girls out-hit the Bearcats 21-14, and both teams stranded seven baserunners.

Pirate pitcher Haelee Rayle scattered 14 hits over seven innings to earn the win. She allowed seven earned runs. Rayle walked two and struck out four.

The Pirate touched Bearcat pitcher Post for 21 hits and 13 earned runs in seven frames. She struck out six and walked one.

SCOREBOARD

        123 456 7    R  H E

BLU 222 204 1   13 21 0

SVL 000 113 2      7 14 0

WP-Rayle LP-Post

2B-Bassett 2 (B), Davis (B), Hobensack (B), Wannemacher 2 (S), Litsey (S)

3B-Green (B)