The Bluffton University softball team ran into a hot-hitting Alma College squad on Thursday, March 17, 2011. The Scots swept the Beavers as Bluffton dropped to 7-4 on the season. Alma upped its record to 11-2.
Alma jumped out to a 10-0 lead on the strength of back-to-back five-run innings to start the game. The Scots pounded out four hits in the first and five hits in the second for a 10-0 advantage after just two innings.
The Beavers rallied in the top of the third, plating four runs on Shelby Erford's (Paulding) grand slam off Alma ace Tara Leddy. Allison Radomski (Cincinnati/Christian) reached on an Alma miscue to open the frame. A Meagan Price (Toledo/Springfield) bunt single followed by a base hit from Shelby Wade (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) loaded the bases for Erford who made it 10-4 with her second long ball of the season.
The home team tacked on a run in the bottom of the fifth while the Beavers managed just two hits over the last four innings of Alma's 11-4 game one victory. Kristin Agauas (Bloomfield Hills/Andover) slipped to 3-1 after allowing 10 runs on 11 hits in 2.1 innings of work. Freshman Kayla Owens (Cincinnati/McAuley) limited the Scots to one score over the final 3.2 innings.
Chelsie Osborne (Chillicothe/Waverly) went 3-of-4 at the dish. Meagan Price was 2-of-3 with a run scored and Erford finished the first contest 2-of-4 with four RBI thanks to her third-inning four-bagger.
Bluffton took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Meagan Price launched a leadoff home run in game two. Bluffton managed just two hits the rest of the way as Alma racked up a run in the second, seven tallies in the third and four more in the fourth en route to a convincing 12-1 mercy-rule victory over the Beavers.
Freshman Christina Hrehor (Austintown/Cardinal Mooney) smacked two hits for the Beavers following the Price dinger. Kayla Owens took the loss after surrendering six runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings on the mound.
The Beavers open Heartland Conference action when they travel to Rose-Hulman on Saturday, March 19, 2011. The first contest with the Engineers is slated for 1 p.m.
