March 8, 2008
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Bluffton University softball team split on its final day in Florida, completing the Spring Break trip with a 5-5 record. The Beavers fell to perennial-power Roanoke (11-3) by a 7-6 score and came back to take the nightcap over Ferrum, 8-3.
Roanoke 7, Bluffton 6
Bluffton opened the game with three runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. Freshman TIFFANY BUCKMASTER (Lima/Bath) singled and moved to second on MOLLIE BROWN'S(Fishers , Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) sacrifice bunt. Following a walk to junior LINDSEY MILLER (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta), KELLIE KENNEY (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) rocketed a double to left center for two runs batted in. Sophomore BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay/Findlay) stroked a two-bagger which plated Kenney and put the Beavers up 3-0.
Although Roanoke put together three hits and two errors in the home half of the first, the Beavers avoided much damage by forcing two runners out at home while limiting Roanoke to only one run.
The Beavers were not as lucky in the second inning. MCCORMICK led off the frame with a single to left center. She moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on a wild pitch. Following a walk to HUDGINS, MESSICK plated both runners with a single to right center. Two scores later and the Maroons had an early 5-3 lead over Bluffton after only two innings.
A two-out rally by Roanoke produced two more runs in the third, pushing the lead to 7-3 midway through the contest.
Bluffton took advantage of two hits and three walks to cut the deficit to one run with three scores in the top of the fourth frame. ABBY SNIDER (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) drew a leadoff walk and she went to second on a single by AMANDA HARRIS (Arcanum/Arcanum). Buckmaster walked to load the bases before Mollie Brown reached on a fielder's choice and everyone moved up 60 feet. JAYME MARBAUGH'S (Ohio City/Parkway) walk plated Harris and Kenney picked up Buckmaster with a base hit to left field. Roanoke induced an inning-ending fly out to end the rally and the Maroons held on for a 7-6 victory over the visitors on the scoreboard.
Marbaugh, Kenney and Miller all finished with multiple hits and Kenney drove in three runs to lead the Beavers. Buckmaster crossed the plate twice.
Babcock (2-4) went the distance, giving up seven runs on 10 hits in 6 innings of work.
Bluffton 8, Ferrum 3
The Beavers wrapped up their trip to Florida with a convincing 8-3 victory over Ferrum College on Friday, March 7, 2008.
Lindsey Miller continued her hot hitting, going 2-of-4 with a home run, four runs batted in and three runs scored. Jayme Marbaugh went 3-of-4 with two runs scored. Abby Snider knocked in a pair of runs in the victory
Kellie Kenney improved to 3-1 with the complete game win over the Panthers. She limited the Panthers to three runs on four hits in seven innings of work with four strikeouts.
Bluffton returns to action on Thursday, March 13, when the Beavers host Indiana Tech in a doubleheader. The first contest is slated to start at 3 p.m.