CLERMONT, Fla. – With a pair of wins on Tuesday, the Heidelberg University softball team improved to 4-0 and pushed head coach Betsy Hada to top of the program's all-time wins list. The Student Princes fell behind in each contest, but stormed back to run-rule each opponent – 13-3 over Bethany and 12-4 against Webster.

With her 110th victory, Hada passed her former coach, Jim Miccichi. Miccichi coached from 1993-99.

THREE STARS

Freshman Abbey McKee went 5-for-7, hitting three doubles and blasting a home run into the warm Florida breeze. McKee drove in four on the afternoon.

Junior Mikaela Mitsch also went 5-for-7 with two doubles and seven RBI. In the first four games, Mitsch – known to her teammates as Train – is batting .727.

Sophomore Taylor Hicks went...wait for it...5-for-7 on the day. Hitting in the two-spot, Hicks scored five times and stole a base.

GAME ONE – HEIDELBERG 13 BETHANY (WV) 3 (5 INNINGS)

Freshman Cori Long got the start in the first game and picked up her first career win. Long allowed three runs in five innings, striking out three.

Down 1-0 in the third, Hicks singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Marissa Smego . Mitsch followed with a single to plate Hicks and tie the game. Two batters later, McKee singled home Train with a single inside the left field line.

After the Bison tied the game in the third, Heidelberg began a two-inning onslaught to seal the game. Bunt singles by Renee Lovett and Jordan Hux and a basehit by Hicks filled the bags with Student Princes. Smego had an RBI groundout before Mitsch pounded the ball just inside the third base bag, scoring twice.

After Long set Bethany down in order, the Berg set up the mercy rule with an eight-run fifth. Lovett singled home pinch runner Christine Bowling to open the scoring. With the bases loaded, Smego singled home a pair just before Mitsch belted a two-run double to the base of the wall in left. Two batters later, McKee's three-run blast cleared the wall and gave HU a 13-2 lead.

Bethany added a run in the fifth but Long capped the game with her third strikeout.

GAME TWO – HEIDELBERG 12 WEBSTER 4 (5 INNINGS)

The Student Princes dug a bit deeper of a hole in the second game, falling behind 4-0 after two innings. In the third, Heidelberg stunned the Gorloks with a six-spot. Bowling ignited the rally with a triple to the track in right center. She scored on an infield single by Lisa Simmons.

With the bases loaded, Smego singled to left, plating Simmons. After a passed ball brought in another run, Train singled back through the box to score Hicks. An RBI single by Zachrich and a sacrifice fly by Kaitlin Keys brought in two more.

Game two starter Erin Chapman, who was able to limit the Gorloks early, pitched a key 1-2-3 fourth, which allowed the Berg bats to get back to business. Chapman went all five innings, scattering seven hits.

With two outs, Hicks singled to center then stole second. Smego followed by serving a single into left center, driving in Hicks.

In the bottom of the fifth, Heidelberg scored five and walked off with the mercy-rule victory. Zachrich, Bowling and Simmons each had RBI hits, bringing home the first three of the inning. After Bowling scored on an infield error, Mitsch singled home Simmons with a chopper into left.

EXTRA BASES

Through five games, Heidelberg is batting .478 overall and .569 with runners in scoring position.

The Tricolor is off to its first 4-0 start since 2011.

At bed check, the softball players surprised Hada with cake and confetti. The festivities were capped off by throwing Hada in the pool.

It was a day of firsts – Bowling's first career hit, Long's first win, McKee's first homer...and Robyn Thomas' first time shoving her coach in a pool.

QUOTES

Hada on passing Jim Miccichi on the wins list: "Coach Miccichi played a big role in getting me to Heidelberg and influenced me to get into coaching. To pass him means a lot to me because he is such a wonderful person."

Hada on her team's philosophy at the plate: "We battle. One through nine, we are tough outs...no matter who we plug into those spots. I think we have a great balance of speed and power."

UP NEXT

With rain in the forecast, Heidelberg softball is schedule to play Saint Mary's College and Berry College on Wednesday. The contests are slated for 1 and 3 p.m. Any delays, due to weather or prior games, will be announced on the Heidelberg Athletics website and Twitter account, @BergAthletics.