TIFFIN – The Heidelberg University softball team pounded out 27 hits in a doubleheader sweep of the visiting University of Mount Union on Monday. The Student Princes won the games, originally scheduled for last Friday, 7-6 and 12-4.

The sweep pushed Heidelberg's record to a lofty 18-4, 7-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Mount Union fell to 10-12, 3-5 in conference action.

KEY STATS: Marissa Smego was a terror at the plate – 6-for-7, three doubles, six RBI on the day ... Taylor Hicks also had six hits and scored six runs in the twinbill ... Renee Lovett did not play in game one, but was a perfect 4-for-4 in the nightcap ... Mikaela Mitsch had four hits and three RBI ... Kayla Zachrich drove in three while tallying three hits ... Pitcher Cori Long saw action out of the bullpen in both games, picking up a save in the opener and the win in the second.

GAME ONE – HEIDELBERG 7 MOUNT UNION 6: The Student Princes opened game one with a run in the first inning. Hicks led off with an infield single, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Smego. With two outs, Mitsch delivered a single to left, scoring Hicks.

After the Purple Raiders scored a pair of unearned runs off of starter Paige Atterholt in the third, the Tricolor responded with a pair in the bottom of the frame. The scoring started with another Mitsch single that plated Hicks. Zachrich followed with a sacrifice fly to left, which allowed Smego to race home.

Mount Union tied the game with a run in the fifth, but again, Heidelberg responded immediately. Hicks ignited the rally with a triple over the head of the right fielder. She scored on an RBI single through the left side by Smego. Later, Zachrich delivered an RBI single that scored pinch runner Kendall Queen. Kyleah Brey connected on a double down the line in left that brought in pinch runner Randi Kelsey. Lisa Simmons ended the scoring in the four-run fifth with an RBI groundout, during which Zachrich scored with a headfirst dive at the plate.

Down 7-3, Mount Union rallied for a pair in the sixth, chasing Atterholt from the game with a triple and a two-run double. Long came in and allowed an RBI double, but struck out Brittany Baitt with the tying run in scoring position to end the inning.

Long worked a perfect seventh to earn her first collegiate save. Atterholt (5-2) went five-plus, allowing four earned runs and giving up seven hits.

GAME TWO – HEIDELBERG 12 MOUNT UNION 4 (SIX INNINGS): Heidelberg and Mount Union traded runs in the first, with Smego doubling home Hicks.

With two down in the second, Smego doubled again, bringing home Lovett and Hicks. The extrabase hit gave Heidelberg a 3-1 lead.

Game two starter Erin Chapman was removed in the third after allowing a solo home run to Mount's Logan Lehman. Chapman allowed two runs in 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and walking one. The Purple Raiders would tie the game in the fourth with another solo shot, this one coming off of Long.

As they did in the first game, the Student Princes rebounded in the bottom of the inning. Lovett hit an RBI single to left which gracefully plated Haylee Patel from third. Two batters later, Lovett scored from first on Smego's third double of the game.

In the top of the fifth, a Mount Union double scored a run and put runners on second and third with one out. Long got a strike out and a fly out to preserve a 5-4 lead.

The Student Princes erupted for an eight-spot in the sixth to invoke the mercy rule. Lovett reached on a bunt base hit then moved to second beating out a fielder's choice. Smego and Mitsch followed with RBI singles to right and center. After Brey walked to load the bases, Zachrich singled home Queen. Pinch hitter Kaitlin Keys added a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Jordan Hux.

Two batters later, Randi Kelsey singled home a pair to give HU an 11-4 lead. Lovett ended the game with her second hit of the inning, an RBI single to center.

THE QUOTES: Smego, on her approach at the plate -- "All I thought about was 'see ball, hit ball, look up the middle'" ... Head coach Betsy Hada on her team's torrid start – "It's great, but we still have a lot of work to do. There's still a lot of conference left. ... Hada on the wet weather forecasted for the rest of the week – "We need to be able to stay on task. Whenever the rain stops, we need to be ready to play.

EXTRA BASES: Heidelberg remains a perfect 6-0 at its new home, Frann's Field ... Their first five wins at home were one-run victories ... At 18-4, the Student Princes are off to their best start in program history ... Six players are hitting over .400 – Mitsch (.470), Smego (.466), Lovett (.462), Zachrich (.459), Hicks (.420) and McKee (.403) ... Smego (28), Mitsch (27) and Zachrich (24) all have more than 20 RBI.

UP NEXT: Heidelberg is scheduled to travel to Capital University (16-7, 7-1 OAC) on Wednesday. The Student Princes and Crusaders are currently atop the OAC standings.