KOKOMO, Ind. - The Bluffton University softball team capped off its magical 2026 season with a 10-6 loss to HCAC-heavyweight Transylvania University in the Heartland Conference Tournament semifinal on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The Beavers went 23-17, posting their best season in over a decade!

Trailing 2-0 after two innings, the Bluffton offense found its spark with three tallies in the third. A Leah Ramirez (Elida) double to center drove in junior Halee McDade (Oxford/Talawanda) before senior Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) singled in Ramirez and Madison Brentlinger (Indian Lake). However, the bottom of the frame proved too much to overcome as the Pioneers scored seven times for a 9-3 advantage.

A bases-loaded single for McDade pushed Brooklynn Bakle (Paulding) and Taryn Hampton (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) across the dish and three batters later, Grant drew a free pass that sent pinch runner Colleen Meese (Rocky River) home, making it 10-6.

Although the visitors on the scoreboard went three up and three down in the top of the seventh, they have so much to be proud of! The Beavers had a fantastic season that culminated with a 3rd place finish in their first conference tournament since 2015!

Grant drove in three and McDade added two RBI. Gronberg took the loss, but she tossed the first 21 innings of the tournament, going 14-8 this season. The standout sophomore went 2.1 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. Freshman Klary McKay (Salem/Mahoning County Career Tech Center) kept the Beavers within striking distance, limiting the Pioneers to three runs, just one earned, in 3.2 innings of relief.

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-