March 7, 2008
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Bluffton University softball team dropped a pair of contests to Methodist University and Eastern Mennonite University on Thursday, March 6, 2008. The Beavers fell to 4-4 following their 8-2 loss to Methodist and 6-2 setback at the hands of EMU.
Methodist 8, Bluffton 2
After Methodist plated a run in each of the first two innings, the Monarchs took advantage of two Bluffton errors and two hits to paste three more scores on the board in the top of the third.
Freshman MOLLIE BROWN (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) opened the home half of the third with a single. One out later, she stole second base. With two outs, JAYME MARBAUGH(Ohio City/Parkway) picked up Brown with her RBI single to center field which made the score 5-1.
Following one-out singles by GRETCHEN HANDLEY (Ashland/Ashland) and Mollie Brown, TIFFANY BUCKMASTER (Lima/Bath) plated Handley with her fielder's choice to the pitcher, cutting the deficit to three runs, 5-2.
The Monarchs put together four hits in the top of the sixth for the 8-2 victory over the Beavers, despite finishing with only one more hit than Bluffton, 10-9.
Marbaugh and Brown both rapped two hits for Bluffton. BROOKE BABCOCK (Findlay/Findlay) took the loss after giving up 10 hits and eight runs, four earned, in seven innings of work. She tallied four strikeouts for the Beavers.
Eastern Mennonite 6, Bluffton 2
The Beavers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Buckmaster led off the game with a base knock. Brown reached on an EMU error before Marbaugh's sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position. LINDSEY MILLER'S (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) single to left plated Buckmaster and Brown crossed the plate on KELLIE KENNEY'S (Toledo/Emmanuel Baptist) ground ball.
Babcock held the Royals scoreless until Eastern Mennonite took advantage of an error and wild pitch to trim the deficit to one in the fifth inning.
Eastern Mennonite blew the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth when the Royals used a hit batter, a free pass and an error to start the rally. LAURA BOMBERGER delivered with a two-RBI single and JESSICA BLOSSER plated MANDEE MADDEN for the final score in EMU's 6-2 victory over the Beavers.
Freshman ABBY SNIDER (Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) went 2-for-2 to lead the Beavers. Miller and Kenney both knocked in runs, while Buckmaster and Brown scored for Bluffton.
Babcock (2-3) took the loss, surrendering six runs, only two earned, on four hits with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings on the mound.
Bluffton will complete its Florida trip with contests against Roanoke and Ferrum on Friday, March 7, 2008. The Beavers are scheduled to take on Roanoke at 3 p.m.
-BEAVERS-