Bekah Patterson’s torrid start to the season at the plate continued Thursday night at Bluffton as she smashed another home run and collected two more singles to pace the Starfires to a 14-2 victory in the ACAC.
Pushing her season batting average to .542, Patterson hit a home run in the top of the sixth to push the score to 13-2, knocking in Macy Pries, who had stolen second base after walking earlier in the inning.
Trying to get out of the inning with a chance to extend the game into the seventh inning after Patterson’s bomb, the Tigers wanted nothing to do with Sofia Schwartz, who had homered to center field back in the first inning. Bluffton walked Schwartz, bringing up Tessa Bernard and the Stars’ slugger belted another home run, her third of the year, over the left field fence to make the score 14-2.
Addie Baker dominated the Tigers in her four innings of work, allowing just two hits and striking out eight. She gave way to Gracy Bixler, who struck out three in two innings to finish the game.
Avery Brown had two hits off the bench for South Adams.
The Starfires took advantage of the Bluffton battery throughout the game, stealing six bases.
South Adams will play Central Noble in the first round of Saturday’s Concordia Invite at 11 a.m.
Fans of the Starfires can hear the team’s game against Heritage Tuesday on 92.7 FM.