By: Ethan Stearns, sports information assistant

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Bluffton University softball team started their season in the warm Florida weather on Sunday, March 5, 2023 as they played two games in back-to-back matchups with Sage University and Pitt-Greensburg. Bluffton stands 1-1 as they begin a full slate of 10 matchups in the Sunshine State.

The first four innings with Sage turned out to be an all-out battle as both teams were unable to mount any offense. Freshman Ashley Kloeker (Troy) got the Beavers on the board in the top half of the fifth, smacking a Texas leaguer to center field that plated junior Kryshel Dales (Defiance/Ayersville) which put the Beavers up 1-0!

The score remained the 1-0 through the sixth, but history would repeat itself in the seventh inning when Kloeker stepped into the batter's box once again. With the bases loaded, Kloeker again dumped another RBI single to center field, allowing fellow freshman Elizabeth Crites (Findlay) to score and putting her squad ahead 2-0 which ended up being the final margin of victory!

Sammi Urban (Troy/Miami East), Dales and Kloeker all smacked two hits in game one, with Kloeker plating two runs in her outstanding collegiate debut performance!

Erin Norman opened the season 1-0 as she went all seven innings for the Beavers, tossing a four-hit shutout and allowing no walks in her senior debut.

The second game against Pitt-Greensburg saw the Beavers drop a 9-0 decision in five innings after waiting nearly two hours due to a three-hour game on Field A.

Greensburg put up three scores an inning through the first three frames, including a two-run base hit in the top of the third. Despite holding Greensburg scoreless in the fourth and fifth inning, the Beavers were unable to get on the board and the game ended in a 9-0 defeat after only five frames.

Riley Hammonds (Russia), Kayleigh Michael (Eaton/National Trail), and Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) all went 1-of-1, but Bluffton was unable to capitalize on any of their base hits. Katie Fleshman fell to 0-1, allowing six earned runs with a strikeout.

The Beavers continue action on Monday, March 6, with games against Northwestern (Minnesota) and Mount Mary. Game one is slated to start at 11:30 a.m. in Winter Haven.

-BEAVERS-