Hanover vs. Bluffton (Ohio), April 25
Big inning lifts Bluffton to HCAC sweep
Bluffton University (Ohio) defeated Hanover College's softball squad, 10-5, in the second game of a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader, Saturday, April 25, in Bluffton, Ohio.
Hanover snagged a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Freshman catcher Blakli Nading (North Vernon, Ind.) led off the stanza with a solo homer to center field. Freshman second baseman Helena Ciminowasielewski (Moores Hill, Ind.) added a two-out, run-scoring single for the Panthers.
Bluffton, with three hits and a pair of Hanover miscues, plated four runs in the bottom half of the inning to bolt into a 4-2 lead.
Hanover countered with one run in the third inning. Freshman outfielder Rachel Miller (Morgantown, Ind.) singled and eventually scored on a grounder to the left side of the infield by Nading.
The Panthers tied the contest at 4-4 in the fourth inning. Ciminowasielewski singled to lead off the stanza. She later scored on a grounder to the shortstop by freshman infielder Lauren Kreinest (Harrison, Ohio).
Bluffton then took control of the outing with a six-run outburst in the bottom half of the inning. The Beavers (28-10; 11-3 HCAC) collected five hits in the inning and took advantage of two Hanover errors to jump into a 10-4 lead.
Hanover (5-26; 2-12 HCAC) scored once in the sixth inning for the final tally. Freshman outfielder Kaelin Tuell (Marysville, Ind.) walked to lead off the inning and scored on a double to left field by freshman outfielder Megan Priest (Indianapolis, Ind.).
Freshman pitcher Tori Harmon (North Crawfordsville, Ind.) hurled a complete game for the Panthers. Harmon (0-3) surrendered 12 hits and 10 runs (five earned) in six innings. She posted three strikeouts and did not issue a walk.
Miller and Ciminowasielewski combined for half of Hanover's eight hits. Ciminowasielewski was 2-for-2 with a run and one RBI. Miller was 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored.