BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Earlham College softball team began Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action with a sweep of Bluffton University on Saturday afternoon.
The Quakers improved to 7-11 while the Beavers fell to 6-16
GAME ONE: EARLHAM 11 BLUFFTON 0
Tatum Rickert pitched a complete game shutout for her third win in the circle this season. The freshman allowed just five hits and two walks while scoring seven strikeouts. Offensively, Rickert knocked her first collegiate home run for three runs in the third inning.
Rickert was 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and four RBI.
Ariel Clarkston went 4-for-4 with a double and one RBI, she also scored one run.
Emmerie Stump hit two doubles for one RBI and three runs scored.
The Quakers plated four runs in the top of the third inning to begin the scoring. First,
Keely Hubbard hit an outfield single for the opening run. The Quakers then hit three straight RBI-doubles to add three more scores.
With base runners on first and second, Rickert shot a homer over the left field wall for three runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Earlham capped off the game with four runs on four hits in the top of the seventh inning.
GAME TWO: EARLHAM 5 BLUFFTON 0
Morgan Cooksey started in the circle for game two, and threw a complete game shutout with only four hits and eight strikeouts.
Nikki Alston scored two hits for two RBI in right field.
Faith Butler went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Shelton hit a double and a home run in game two.
The Quakers scored all five runs of game two in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Shelton hit a solo homer to right center field to begin the scoring. With runners on first and second, Butler doubled to left-center for a score. Then Alston hit an outfield single to bring home two runs with the bases loaded. Back at the top of the lineup, Hubbard earned a walk to bring in another run.
The Quakers will continue play on Thursday at Kenyon College with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm.
