Ravens Fight to Split with Beavers

The Anderson University softball team fought to a split with Bluffton University during Wednesday's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) doubleheader at the Raven Softball Field.

Bluffton (12-18, 1-7) secured a 7-3 win against the Ravens (8-18, 3-5) in Game 1. Anderson then locked up a 7-6 victory in Game 2.

During the bottom of the third inning in Game 2, Molly Buck doubled in a run and Hope Smith singled in a run to put Anderson ahead 2-0.

In the top of the fifth, Kryshel Dales cracked an RBI single and Riley Hammonds ripped a two-run double to give the Beavers a 3-2 lead. The Ravens took the lead back when Buck smashed a two-run home run in the bottom half of the inning. Later in the inning, Lauren Smith stole third and scored on an error on the same play to give the Ravens a 5-3 advantage.

With one runner on and two outs in the top of the seventh, Kaylee Grant contributed a pinch hit single. Hammons then smacked a three-run homer to put Bluffton ahead 6-5.

In the bottom half of the inning, Buck provided a one-out single. Pinch runner Lexi Rankin then stole second. Hope Smith then belted an RBI double and advanced to third on an error. Pinch hitter Jayden Brown then singled in the winning run for a 7-6 victory.

GAME 1: BLUFFTON 7, ANDERSON 3

• The Ravens outhit the Beavers 12-8.
• Maddie Schoenradt – 3-for-4
• Lexi Rankin (Hitting) – 2-for-4
• Maddie Tuttle – 2-for-4
• Hope Smith – 2-for-4
• Jayden Brown – Single
• Faith Muterspaugh - Single
• Molly Buck – Single
• Lexi Rankin (Pitching) – Loss (6-7), 6.1 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

GAME 2: ANDERSON 7, BLUFFTON 6

• Anderson outhit Bluffton 11-9.
• Molly Buck (Hitting) – 4-for-4, Two-Run Homer, RBI Double, 3 RBI's, 2 Runs
• Hope Smith – 2-for-4, RBI Double, 2 RBI's
• Saige Fellers – 2-for-3, 2 Stolen Bases
• Jayden Brown – Pinch-Hit Walk-off RBI Single
• Maddie Schoenradt – Single, 2 Stolen Bases, 2 Runs
• Maddie Tuttle – Single
• Alexis Bean – 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Molly Buck – Win (2-8), 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 K

UP NEXT

The Ravens challenge Mount St. Joseph University (20-8, 6-0) in an HCAC doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Raven Softball Field.