Manchester knocks Bluffton out of HCAC tourney
May 8, 2010
By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
Click here for box score
LEXINGTON, Kentucky - The Bluffton University softball team fell to Manchester College in the Heartland Conference Tournament semi-finals, 11-4, on Saturday, May 8, 2010. Bluffton finished the 2010 season 18-22 while Manchester improved to 23-19-1.
The Spartans started off strong, building a commanding 6-0 lead by the bottom of the second inning. In the bottom of the third, the Beavers cut the deficit to four, starting with a Shelby Wade (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) single to left. Stevie Cuttitta (Columbiaville, Mich./Clio) doubled to center, moving Wade to third before she crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice. A Torrie Wilson (Delphos/Jefferson) squeeze bunt gave Allison Radomski (Cincinnati/Christian) the green light for home.
In the fourth, senior Brooke Babcock (Findlay) found a gap through the left side and went to second thanks to a single from teammate Emily Manahan (Columbus/Bishop Watterson). After reaching third on a fielder’s choice, Babcock added another tally for the Bluffton score thanks to a sacrifice fly from Wade.
Manchester added five more runs over the next three innings, making it 11-3. In the bottom of the seventh, sophomore Jessica McDonald (Mechanicsburg) drew a free pass. A Wade single moved pinch runner Meagan Price (Toledo/Springfield) to second and then third following an error by the Spartans. A ground out scored Price, but Manchester proved to be too much as the Spartans defeated the Beavers 11-4 in the HCAC Tournament. Transylvania then clinched the NCAA AQ berth with a 6-2 win over the Spartans.
Both Shelby Wade and senior Jayme Marbaugh (Ohio City/Parkway) had two hits in the contest. Marbaugh and Price were named to the All-Tournament Team. Senior Brooke Babcock fell to 10-12 in her final appearance on the mound for the Beavers.
-BEAVERS-
