NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Manchester University softball team earned a sweep of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Bluffton University on Friday, while following with a walk-off win in 8 innings in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader against Hope College on Saturday as part of a strong weekend.

The Spartans improved to 3-5 in HCAC play following 3-2 and 11-9 victories over the Beavers. Saturday's thrilling 7-6 win in 8 innings over Hope College helped the Spartans earn a doubleheader split with the visiting Flying Dutch. A young Spartan squad has shown considerable improvement this spring – with Saturday's win, the Black & Gold have doubled its win total from a year ago.

Spartan Stats

• Delayne Sanchez (Osceola, Ind./Penn) had an outstanding two days at the plate for Manchester. Sanchez went a combined 7-13 with two doubles, a home run, and six RBI. Sanchez belted her first collegiate home run in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against Bluffton.
• Lizzie Smith (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) also had a strong weekend at the plate for Manchester. Smith went 6-11 while driving home five runs.
• The final game of the weekend saw the Spartans overcome a 5-1 deficit against Hope College. Manchester would rally and take a 6-5 lead after scoring five runs in the home half of the 6^th inning. After the Flying Dutch tied the game in the top of the 7^th, Manchester would fight to push across the go-ahead run just an inning later in the bottom of the 8^th. A single to left by Kodi Douglass (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North) got the inning started for the Black & Gold. A passed ball would allow Douglass to get into scoring position and then a sac bunt by Lizzie Smith would push Douglass to third base with only one out. Izzy Dittmar (Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw Community) battled at the plate, fouling off several two-strike pitches before singling up the middle to drive home the game-winning run.
• In addition to the strong offense this weekend, both Tori Blough (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll), and Kaitlyn Carr (Valparaiso, Ind./Chesterton) highlighted some strong pitching performances by Manchester. Blough earned the complete game win in the Spartans' 3-2 victory over Bluffton on Friday. Blough scattered five hits and was only charged with one earned run. Carr improved to 6-2 in the pitcher's circle after throwing 4 2/3 innings of relief in Manchester's 7-6 win over Hope. Carr allowed just one run on four hits against the Flying Dutch.

Up Next

• Manchester (12-18, 3-5 HCAC) will return to action on Wednesday April 20 with a doubleheader at Defiance College.
• First pitch from Ohio is scheduled for 3:30 pm.