By Cort Reynolds
Playing at home, the Bluffton High School varsity softball team ran its win streak to four games with a 9-1 romp over visiting non-conference foe Miller City on a windy Friday evening, April 15.
Pirate sophomore Lauren Bassett smacked a double, two singles and drove home three runs to pace the 14-hit attack.
Ashley Fleece also cranked a double and two singles, and knocked in one run. Senior shortstop Riley Busch slapped three singles and collected two runs batted in.
The Pirates improved to 4-4 with the lopsided win. Miller City fell to 3-5 with the defeat.
Bluffton jumped out to a 6-0 lead by scoring three runs in each of the first two innings, and never was threatened.
The Pirate girls tacked on two runs in the fourth frame and one more in the sixth to extend their lead to 9-0.
MC plated its lone run on an RBI hit by losing pitcher Nicolette Inkrott in the top of the seventh.
Bluffton junior Dyllan Worcester contributed an RBI single. Pirate senior catcher Sophie Bricker knocked out two hits. Danielle Cross stroked a double, while Olivia Matthews hit a single.
Hannah Davis lowered her earned run average to 2.34 with her fourth consecutive win. She struck out six Wildcats and scattered six hits.
Taylor Michel doubled for MC, while Inkrott and Taylor Wilhelm each collected two singles.
123 456 7 R H E
MC 000 001 0 1 6 5
Blu 330 201 x 9 14 0
WP-Davis (4-3) LP-Inkrott
2B-Cross (B), Bassett (B), Fleece (B), T. Michel (MC)
The Pirate girls (1-0 NWC) host perennial Northwest Conference leader Crestview (8-1, 2-0 NWC) Monday, April 18 in a game between the only two undefeated teams left in the league.
