The Lady Pirates took a 17-9 loss to Arlington in stride Friday night, as Coach Gillett and the ladies mixed it up a bit.
The Pirates got on the board first, as Molly Lengyel singled to bring in Shannon McKamey from third. Arlington batted in two runs in the first to lead 2-1.
Mariah Welch started off the 2nd inning for the Pirates with a rip to center field for a double. Katie Palte blasted a double down third baseline to score Welch.
Sierra Amstutz earned a walk and she and Palte advanced a base on a passed ball by Arlington, setting up an opportunity for a squeeze bunt. Kelsey Buettner laid down an excellent bunt and Palte scored as Arlington took the out at first. Brianna Laing batted in the final Pirate run for the inning making the score 4-2. Arlington powered in six runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 8-4.
Anna Crisp took over pitching duty in the bottom of the third for the Lady Pirates, and held the Red Devils to just one run. The Pirates also changed up the infield after Adrian Rumer took a hard line drive on third, moving Palte to third, Laing to short stop, and Lexi Luginbihl to second base.
The top of the fifth brought changes in the Pirate line-up as Tessa Howe and Kylee Barnett entered for Welch and McKamey. Lengyel, Luginbuhl, and Howe each singled for the Pirates, catching Lengyel at third on the force out.
Palte blasted another rip down third baseline for an RBI, and Buettner loaded the bases on an error. Laing struck with a single, scoring two runs and Barnett hit a bloop to center field to score two more runs for the Pirates, tying the score at 9-9. Arlington answered right back, scoring five runs on a triple to left field, a double, and 4 singles to put the Red Devils up 14-9.
The Red Devils added three runs in the bottom of the sixth, one off an overthrow on a steal and one off a base hit. The Red Devils scored their final run on a tag up as Buettner made an amazing catch above the fence in left field. Catcher Sierra Amstutz tallied the last out for the Pirates, catching a foul pop up to end the inning with the score 17-9.
The Pirates tried for a rally in the seventh as Palte was walked and Amstutz added a base hit, but the Red Devils defense shut the ladies down. Palte was forced out at second on Amstutz's single and then Amstutz took the force out on second off a base hit by Buettner. Laing hit a fly out to center field to end the game for the Pirates.
The game was the final regular season for the Pirates, who stand at 13-7 overall. The Pirates are still in the hunt for a District title as they face New Bremen Wednesday at Wapakoneta.
Bluffton stats:
Anna Crisp: LP- 1 K, 2 BB
Brianna Laing: 3/5, 3 RBI, 2 put outs
Katie Palte: 2/2 1-2B, 2 RBI, 4 put outs, 2 assists
Shannon McKamey: 1/2, 2 put outs
Kylee Barnett: 1/1, 2 RBI, 1 put out
Molly Lengyel: 2/3, RBI
Lexi Luginbihl: 1/2
Mariah Welch: 2/2 1-2B
Sierra Amstutz: 1/3, 1 put out
Kelsey Buettner: 1/2, RBI, 1 put out
