BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team used the support of its Senior Day crowd to sweep a pair of Heartland Conference contests against a Franklin College squad that double-dipped HCAC-leading Transylvania six days ago! Bluffton wrapped up its season with a 15-23 mark, including a 5-13 record in league play. The Grizzlies fell to 20-11 and 10-8 in HCAC action on a cold and rainy Saturday, May 3.
Bluffton trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the second when RBI doubles by Grace Gronberg (Danville) and Kayleigh Michael (Eaton/National Trail) plated Tianna Galbraith (Wayne/Elmwood), Mia McCartney (North Baltimore) and Gronberg for a 3-1 Beaver lead.
A McCartney two-bagger picked up Reagen O'Brien (Bellbrook) an inning later, putting the home team up 4-3. RBI singles by Taryn Hampton (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) and Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) made it 6-4 heading to inning five.
The floodgates opened with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth. O'Brien delivered the hammer with a three-run double before a Franklin error and bases-loaded walk to Galbraith added up to five unearned runs and a seemingly comfortable 11-4 spread with just two innings to play.
A Grizzly score in the sixth and six unearned tallies in the seventh, courtesy of three Beaver errors, sent game one into extra time.
Franklin went up 12-11 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth, but the home team responded with a walkoff RBI single from O'Brien after Hampton drew a free pass with the bases full!
O'Brien drove in four as she was one of five Beavers with two hits in the lidlifter. She joined Hampton, Lewis, Gronberg and Ella McCombs (Springfield/Southeastern) with multiple safeties. Gronberg and Hampton drove in two runs apiece. McCombs and Gronberg both scored three runs, while O'Brien crossed the dish twice.
Gronberg went the distance, improving to 7-12 after tossing eight innings. She allowed 12 runs, but just four earned, while fanning 11 batters and walking seven.
Franklin scored solo runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings of game two, but a four-run burst for the Beavers in inning number five propeled to the team to a sweep on graduation day!
Junior Riley Hammonds (Russia) got the Beavers on the board when her fielder's choice to shortstop picked up McCombs who opened the inning with a single to left. A McCartney single drove in Hampton and Lewis helped herself with a two-run double to the wall in left center!
She scattered 11 hits, allowing just three runs, two earned, during a complete-game effort in her final game as a Beaver! Lewis improved to 6-7 and she rapped two of Bluffton's seven hits in the season finale.
Bluffton capped off its 2025 campaign with a 15-23 record. Continue to check the Bluffton softball webpages over the coming weeks as the record books are updated and All-Heartland Conference awards are distributed.
-BEAVERS-
