BLUFFTON, Ohio - It was a tale of two games as the Bluffton University softball team split a pair with Anderson University on a cold Monday, April 6, 2026. Bluffton moves to 9-9 overall and 1-3 in the Heartland Conference, while the Ravens stand 6-14 and 2-2 in the HCAC.

The home team took a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first courtesy of singles from Madison Brentlinger (Indian Lake) and senior Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) before a wild pitch put the Beavers on top.

Senior Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) reached on a wild pitch in the third and she came around to score following an infield single by sophomore standout Grace Gronberg (Danville).

Tianna Galbraith (Wayne/Elmwood) scurried to first thanks to another Anderson wild pitch with two outs in the fourth and the Beavers made it count. Freshman Brooklynn Bakle (Paulding) singled to left and a free pass for Brentlinger loaded the sacks for Tegeder who launched a bases-clearing triple down the right field line for a 5-0 Bluffton advantage!

A two-run base hit for sophomore Leah Ramirez (Elida) plated Taryn Hampton (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) and Gronberg for a 7-0 spread and Gronberg allowed just one hit over the final two frames on the way to her fifth victory of the season. She tossed a three-hit shutout, striking out four with just one walk in a seven-inning, complete game.

Brentlinger continued wielding her hot stick, going 2-of-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Gronberg helped her own cause, going 2-of-2 at the plate. Tegeder drove in three, while Ramirez plated two.

Grant doubled home Brentlinger in the home first of game two, but Anderson scored in each inning, including a six-spot in the third, en route to a 12-3 mercy-rule victory.

Bakle singled home Ramirez in the fourth and Hampton, who ripped a two-bagger, crossed the dish following a Raven wild pitch, giving Bluffton hope of playing past the fifth, but the visitors tacked on two more tallies an inning later to secure the Monday split.

Freshman Klary McKay (Salem/Mahoning County Career Tech Center) slipped to 3-4 on the season after surrendering seven runs on seven hits in just 2.1 innings of work. She struck out one and walked two. Junior Colleen Meese (Rocky River) closed it out, allowing five runs, three earned, on four hits with three walks.

Bluffton is back on its home turf for a 3 p.m. non-league clash against the Oberlin College Yeowomen on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

-BEAVERS-