April 16, 2009
ANDERSON, Ind. - The Bluffton University softball team had its eyes on a sweep of Anderson University after a 5-1 victory in the lidlifter, but four game two errors cost the Beavers a 5-3 decision on Thursday, April 16, 2009. Bluffton moved to 23-9 overall and 8-2 in the Heartland Conference, while the Ravens now stand at 16-10 and 8-4 in the HCAC.
Bluffton went up 1-0 in the first when Brooke Babcock (Findlay) singled home Jayme Marbaugh (Ohio City/Parkway) who ripped a two-out double.
In the bottom of the third, Anderson scored its lone game one run on an RBI single by Siefring with two outs.
The Beavers did their damage in the sixth frame, scoring four runs. Babcock and Kellie Kenney (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) sandwiched two-baggers around an Anderson pitching change to make it 2-1 Bluffton. After Kenney was gunned down at home following an Anderson error, Meagan Price (Toledo/Springfield) walked and Jessica McDonald (Mechanicsburg) was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Torrie Wilson (Delphos/Jefferson) who picked up Emily Manahan (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) with an RBI single. Chelsie Osborne (Chillicothe/Waverly) completed the assault with a two-run single, making the score 5-1.
Babcock improved to 12-4 with her 12th complete game of the season. She limited the Ravens to one run on seven hits with four strikeouts and just one walk. Helping herself at the dish, Babcock was 3-of-4 with an RBI. Kenney finished the opener with two hits and Osborne drove in a pair of runs in the sixth inning.
Bluffton again took the first lead of the contest in game two. Osborne singled home Torrie Wilson for a 1-0 margin in the top of the third. The Ravens came right back with an unearned run in the home half of the inning to knot the score 1-1.
Haines led off the Anderson fourth with a solo homer before two more Bluffton miscues added up to another unearned run for a 3-1 Ravens' lead.
A Bluffton error and two wild pitches allowed Anderson to push its lead to 4-1 after five before the Beavers rallied for a pair of scores in the top of the sixth. With Wilson and Osborne both in scoring position, Lindsey Miller (Wapakoneta) collected her fourth walk of the afternoon. Kenney picked up the RBI when she drew a free pass with the sacks full. Manahan made it 4-3 with her RBI single, but Allison Radomski (Fairfield/Cincinnati Christian) was thrown out at the plate trying to tie the game.
The Ravens added an insurance run in the sixth on a leadoff homer by Siefring and Anderson held Bluffton to a single in the seventh to secure the 5-3 game two victory.
Kenney fell to 9-4 on the season with the loss. She gave up three runs, one earned, on three hits in three innings of work. Osborne was the only Beaver with multiple hits, going 2-of-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Wilson scored twice in the 5-3 setback.
The Beavers finish the non-conference portion of their schedule with a home doubleheader against Case Western on Saturday, April 18, 2009. The first contest on Strike-out Cancer Day is slated for 1 p.m. at Bluffton's new softball field.
-BEAVERS-
