BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team rode the momentum from its come-from-behind Thursday night victory at Mount St. Joseph, scoring 25 runs in a convincing sweep of Hanover College on a windy April 19, 2026. Bluffton upped its mark to 18-12 overall and 6-6 in the Heartland Conference, while the visitors slipped to 10-20 on the season with a 2-8 sheet in the HCAC.
Junior Ella McCombs (Springfield/Southeastern) singled and came around to score following a Madison Brentlinger (Indian Lake) base hit to right in the bottom of the third for a 1-0 Bluffton lead.
Sophomore Grace Gronberg (Danville) continued to weave her magic, keeping the Panthers off the scoreboard in a tight one-run game until the offense found its stroke in the home sixth. She ignited the rally with a leadoff double to right center before pinch runner Hailey Lennard (North Baltimore) took her spot on the basepaths. Freshman Brooklynn Bakle (Paulding) launched a two-bagger to center, plating Lennard, and then she trotted home on the second hit of the game from McCombs. An infield single for Brentlinger set the stage for sophomore Leah Ramirez (Elida) who just missed the scoreboard with her three-run shot to left! Senior Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) reached on a Hanover error and following singles from Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) and Gronberg, she crossed the dish courtesy of a passed ball.
Brentlinger went 3-of-4, while Grant, Gronberg and McCombs all smacked two hits in game one. Ramirez drove in three and McCombs scored twice.
Gronberg was nearly untouchable, allowing just two hits while striking out 10 against just three walks. She improved to 10-5 on the season.
Hanover jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning in game two, but their lead was short-circuited by Bluffton's three runs in the home half and two more in the second. The Panthers were still clinging to life until 13 runs on nine hits and four errors in the bottom of the third gave the Beavers a clean sweep following the 18-3 mercy-rule victory.
Tegeder and Grant drove in Brentlinger and Ramirez before McCombs crossed the dish on a wild pitch for a 3-2 Bluffton lead going to the second inning.
Brentlinger doubled and Ramirez hit her second homer of the day for a 5-2 Beaver advantage with two frames in the book.
The visitors pulled within two runs (5-3) following an RBI groundout in the third, however, Bluffton unleashed the dragon for 13 runs in the bottom of the fourth! Nine hits and four errors added up to a monster inning for the home team. Grant laced a three-run two-bagger to right center, making the score 8-3. McCombs picked her up and Bakle doubled home McCombs for a 10-3 spread. Sophomore Tianna Galbraith (Wayne/Elmwood) doubled home Bakle and pinch hitter Kailyn Eshbaugh (New Franklin/Manchester) plated Hampton with her RBI groundout. McCombs singled home Ramirez before two-run doubles from Bakle and Hampton capped off the 18-3 onslaught.
Freshman Klary McKay (Salem/Mahoning County Career Tech Center) worked a perfect fifth en route to the complete-game victory. SHe allowed three runs on three hits with two strikeouts in five innings of work.
Brentlinger went 3-of-4 and her three runs propelled the transfer sophomore to a school-record (Jess Kuzara - 43) 44 runs scored for the season! Ramirez, Grant and Bakle all joined her with three hits in game two. Ramirez scored four times, while Grant drove in four runs. McCombs was 2-of-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Grant scored three runs and Bakle drove in three.
Bluffton will travel west to North Manchester, Ind., for a pair of crucial Heartland Conference games against Manchester University on Wednesday, April 22. The lidlifter is slated for 3:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-