KOKOMO, Ind. - The Bluffton University softball team scored four times in the top of the first inning on the way to a convincing 7-1 victory over Manchester on day two of the HCAC Tournament. The Beavers improved to 22-16.

Following a pair of one-out walks to Leah Ramirez (Elida) and Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) in the top of the first, senior Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) singled up the middle for a 1-0 lead. Back-to-back singles by Grace Gronberg (Danville) and Brooklynn Bakle (Paulding) made it 3-0 before an RBI groundout from Tianna Galbraith (Wayne/Elmwood) pushed it to 4-0 after inning one.

Singles from Taryn Hampton (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) and Galbraith followed by a walk to Halee McDade (Oxford/Talawanda) loaded the sacks before sacrifice flies from Madison Brentlinger (Indian Lake) and Ramirez gave the Beavers a 6-0 lead.

A Hampton single in the sixth picked up Bakle, making it 7-0. Manchester scored an unearned run in the seventh, but the Beavers moved into the next round with their 7-1 victoy over Manchester.

Gronberg moved to 13-7 after limiting the Spartans to just one run, none earned, on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Hampton and Gronberg smacked three hits in the lidlifter. Bakle drove in two and seven different Beavers scored in game one.

Bluffton is currently in a rain delay, tied 2-2 with Mount St. Joseph, in the third inning.

-BEAVERS-