By Cort Reynolds
LIMA– The visiting Bluffton High School softball team scored six runs in their final at bat to rally past non-league rival Lima Central Catholic for a 7-6 win Thursday evening, April 6.
The Pirates improved to 3-3 after their improbable comeback to stop a three-game losing skid.
Bluffton trailed 6-1 heading to the top of the seventh inning. But the Pirates exploded for six scores to shock the Thunderbirds and win.
The Pirates scored one run in the top of the first, yet LCC matched that in the home half of the first. The Thunderbirds inched in front 3-1 heading to the sixth inning.
Thunderbird leadoff hitter Melana Badea then launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to extend their margin to 6-1 going into the seventh and final frame.
Bluffton out-hit LCC, 12-7.
Olivia Hobensack smacked a double and two singles, scored one run and batted in a run to help pace the productive Pirate offense.
Lauren Bassett slugged a triple and a double, drove in two runs and scored once. She also drew a walk in five plate appearances.
Ashley Fleece hit a double, singled, scored a run and drove one in. Leadoff hitter Fleece also stole two bases.
Pirates Dyllan Worcester and Adanna Johnstone both hit a double and scored a run. Worcester also added one RBI.
Heidelberg University soccer signee Olivia Matthews singled, scored a run and had one RBI.
Vanessa Cross (1-0) pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits and six earned runs in seven innings. She struck out three T-Birds and walked six.
T-Bird Emma Skinner supported Badea with a double, single and one RBI. Skinner also pitched all seven innings and took the loss. She allowed 12 hits and seven earned runs, while striking out eight and walking four Pirates.
Bluffton played error-less softball, while LCC committed three miscues.
The Pirates left 11 runners on base, while the T-Birds stranded seven.
The win avenged a 6-5 sectional final loss by the Pirates to LCC last May.
Bluffton travels to Liberty-Benton (2-4) for a doubleheader Saturday.
BLUFFTON 100 000 6 – 7 12 0
LCC 101 013 0 -- 6 7 3
LOB—Bluffton 11, LCC 7.
E—M. Badea, K. Badea, Kill.
2B--Lauren Bassett, Dyllan Worcester, Ashley Fleece, Olivia
Hobensack, Adanna Johnstone, Skinner.
3B--Lauren Bassett.
HR--M Badea.
SB--Fleece (2), Shultz, Macklin.
BLUFFTON IP H R ER BB SO HR
Vanessa Cross 7.0 7 6 6 6 3 1
LCC
E Skinner 7.0 12 7 7 4 8 0
PB--Addi Businger, K Macklin (2).
WP--Vanessa Cross (3), Skinner.
BB--Lauren Bassett, Aubrey Edwards, Adanna Johnstone, Vanessa Cross, Helmia, Pignataro (2), Shultz (2), Macklin.
