By Cort Reynolds
MILLER CITY - Visiting Bluffton crushed Miller City 16-2 in a non-league softball contest Wednesday evening.
The Lady Pirates improved to 8-13 with the five-inning, run rule-shortened victory.
The Pirate girls broke on top with four runs in the top of the first inning. They added three scores in the second for a 7-0 lead.
Riley Busch cranked a two-run homer, her fourth longball of the season, in the top of the second frame.
MC tallied both of its runs in the home fourth on a two-run homer by Knueven.
But the Pirate girls pushed across nine big runs in the fifth frame, and held MC scoreless in the home fifth to enact the 10-run rule.
Pirate Lauren Swartzlander hammered a two-run homer in the top of the fifth, her second round-tripper of the season.
Bluffton hurler Hannah Davis earned her third win of the spring with five innings of three-hit pitching.
The Pirates ripped MC pitching for 13 hits. Ashley Fleece collected two singles and a double and drove in two runs.
Davis also doubled, while Rebekah Hoff and Grace Myers each collected one hit. Jasmine Whitlow singled in a pair of runs.
Bluffton out-hit MC, 13-3.
123 456 7 R H E
Blu 430 09x x 16 13 1
MC 000 20x x 2 3 2
WP-Davis (3-5) LP-Oedy
2B-Fleece (B), Busch (B), Swartzlander (B)
HR-Swartzlander (B), Busch (B), Knueven (MC)
Bluffton plays at Lima Central Catholic Thursday, May 13 in the sectional finals.
The winner advances to the district semis will at Elida Tuesday, May 18. Top seed is North Baltimore.
The district finals are slated for Saturday, May 21 at Elida.
