By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON __ The Bluffton High School girls softball team defeated visiting Emmanuel Christian handily 13-5 Wednesday, April 16.

The Pirate girls improved to 2-4 overall with the win. The hosts overcame an early 3-0 deficit to win going away. 

Bluffton tallied one run in the third, then plated four in the fourth to take the lead for good, 5-3.

Three more Pirates crossed home in the fifth to make it 8-3. EC tacked on two runs in the top of the sixth.

But a five-run sixth frame by the Pirates put the game out of reach at 13-5. 

Bluffton out-hit EC, 7-6.  

Pirate cleanup hitter Danielle Cross slugged a triple and double, plus a single. She drove in four runs and scored three times. Macy Schaadt hit an RBI triple and scored a run.

Jessa Swank legged out a triple, drove in three runs and scored twice. Emma Green singled and scored two runs. Greta Meyer crossed home twice.

Pirate Haelee Rayle started and pitched the first three innings. She allowed four hits and three earned runs. She struck out two.

Peyton Worcester hurled the final four innings in relief to earn the win. She allowed two hits and two earned runs, with a pair of walks and eight big strikeouts. 

Worcester also hit a two-run double and scored a run.

Ariella Morris and Faith Taylor both hit two-run doubles for the losers.

The Pirates committed just one error, while EC was guilty of three miscues. The visitors stranded two runners, and Bluffton left four on base.

Bluffton (1-0 NWC) plays at league rival Delphos Jefferson (8-4, 2-0 NWC) Thursday, April 17.

WP-Worcester LP-Woodward 

2B-Morris (EC), Faith Taylor (EC), Peyton Worcester (B), Cross (B). 

3B-Swank (B), Cross (B), Schaadt (B)