By Evan Skilliter, sports information assistant

Game 1 Stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/softball/2012/04-17-s1.htm

I Game 2 Stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/softball/2012/04-17-s2.htm

The Beaver softball team played host to the Anderson University Ravens on Tuesday, April 17, for Strike Out Cancer Day at Bluffton University. Bluffton (18-14, 6-4 HCAC) dropped two hard fought games, each by a score of 2-1, while AU (23-10) stayed perfect in the HCAC at 12-0.

Megan Patton (Waynesfield/Perry) started the lidlifter for the Beavers and pitched a gem. Patton did not allow a hit through 2.2 innings, before a two-out solo homer by Katie Lee put the Ravens on top, 1-0.

The Beavers went scoreless until the fifth inning. Brittany Baker (Springboro) started things off with a walk. One out later, senior Meagan Price (Toledo/Springfield) hit a double that moved pinch runner Chelsea Weitz (Dayton/Carroll) over to third. Chelsie Osborne (Chillicothe/Waverly) followed with an infield single that scored Weitz from third.

Anderson came right back and tacked on a run in the top of the sixth thanks to a Devin Moorhouse RBI single down the left field line. The Beavers were unable to answer in the next two innings as game one ended with Anderson on top, 2-1.

Patton (6-6) went the distance in the circle and took the loss for the Beavers. The freshman pitched seven quality innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits. She struck out two and walked three. Lindsay Robertson (Cincinnati/Northwest) led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, while Price went 2-for-4 with a double.

Chloe Shell (Covington) toed the rubber in game two for the Beavers. She pitched three scoreless innings before the visitors got on the board with an RBI groundout in the fourth inning. Bluffton finally answered in the bottom of the sixth when Jessica Kuzara (Flat Rock, MI/Huron) hit a laser to the right field wall, scoring Robertson from first base and knotting the score at 1-1.

However, Anderson again answered in the top of the seventh when Nichole Frasier hit a single up the middle that scored Megan Ream and gave the Ravens a 2-1 lead. The Beavers went down without a hit in the bottom of the seventh as the Ravens locked up the #1 seed in the upcoming HCAC Tournament.

Shell (8-5) took the unfortunate loss for the Beavers after a great outing. She pitched all seven innings in the circle, giving up two runs, one earned, on seven hits, while striking out two and not walking a batter.

At the plate, Robinson was 2-for-3 with a run. She finished the day 4-of-6. Kuzara went 2-for-3 and Price was 1-of-2.

The Beavers will play host to Rose-Hulman this Saturday, April 21, at 1 p.m., before travelling to Franklin on Sunday.