By RYAN WALKER
BERNE — South Adams big second inning blasted the Starfires past the visiting Bluffton Tigers in conference Game 1 Thursday 11-1.
The eight-run inning was highlighted by Starfire sophomore Bekah Patterson, breaking the game open with a grand slam to put the game away early. Before that swing, Bluffton put runners on, due to errors and walks, to juice the bases full.
The Tigers (2-6-1) allowed seven walks in the game on top of three errors. Head coach Ben Powers knows that you can’t put runners on that way to beat a program like South Adams (5-4), who won the sectional last year.
“An error led to walks, and some walks led to a couple more errors,” the third-year head coach said after the game. “That one little one inning kind of took us out of that game. A ball we don’t catch, and it gets away from us. Just trying to build on the positives. That’s a good program over here. You can’t beat them making errors.”
Though the scoreboard didn’t represent it, Bluffton put pressure on South Adams for most of the game with six hits and four combined base runners by walks, errors, and hit-by-pitches in the five-inning game.
The one run in the game, though, tells the tale. Eight base runners were left stranded to end the inning with no damage.
“We had runners in scoring position with hits right there, and we get right back into the game,” Powers said. “We left probably nine runners on, and we were right there, and I feel like if we punch a couple of runners across, the game looks a little different.”
The one run came in the first inning when Kayla Kiefer drove in Lily King with an RBI single.
King, the lone senior on the team, has been a staple in the Tigers’ lineup for four years as one of their best hitters. In this game, the first baseman went three-for-three with a double and a run scored.
She’s second on the team with a .545 batting average and in hits to go with four doubles and her first career home run earlier in the year. Coach Powers loves to have her in his lineup every day.
“It’s very nice,” he said. “Lily’s been with me since the start and has always been one of our best hitters. She always has confidence, and that’s not unexpected for her to do that. She stays hot, she’s a senior, and she’s played a lot of softball of her day and has taken advantage of that. It’s exciting to see her stay hot at the plate.”
The Starfires ended the game in a mercy rule on a walk-off passed ball to home plate.
Bluffton will host Northfield at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 22.
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