Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 TIFFIN -- On the eve of an important conference doubleheader, the Heidelberg University softball team found their rhythm, sweeping Wooster on Friday. The Student Princes did just enough in game one for a 7-2 win before their offense erupted in game two for a 12-1 run-rule victory in five innings. In the sweep, Marissa Smego broke the HU single-season doubles record while Paige Atterholt became the Berg's all-time innings pitched leader.
With the sweep, Heidelberg improved to 24-10 while Wooster fell to 15-21.
STANDOUT STATS
Game 1: Heidelberg 7 Wooster 2
After a double play got the Berg out of trouble in the top of the first, the Student Princes quickly got their offense going in the bottom of the inning. Three consecutive hits to open the inning, including an RBI single by Marissa Smego, gave HU a 1-0 lead.
Heidelberg tacked on one run to their lead in the second inning when Mikaela Mitsch drilled an RBI single to left.
Wooster was able to tie the game up in the top of the 3rd, as five singles in the inning gave the Fighting Scots a pair of runs.
The Student Princes were able to regain the lead in the bottom of the fourth when a two-out RBI double by Kayla Zachrich made it a 3-2 game in favor of HU.
Heidelberg distanced themselves from Wooster in the bottom of the 6th when Abbey McKee drilled a three-run homer to center to make it a 6-2 lead. HU tacked on one more in the inning with an RBI groundout from Lisa Simmons to build a 7-2 edge.
Paige Atterholt fired a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th as the Berg took game one by a 7-2 final. Atterholt improved to 13-5 on the year with the complete game victory.
Game 2: Heidelberg 12 Wooster 1
HU jumped ahead early when RBI from Zachrich and McKee made it a 2-0 lead for the Berg after one inning.
Heidelberg added onto that lead in the 2nd when back-to-back extra base hits by Bailey Smith and Smego plated two more runs.
Wooster scored on an illegal pitch in the top of the 3rd, but the Student Princes responded with four in the bottom of the inning to take a commanding 8-1 lead.
The Berg kept their offense rolling in the fourth, as they batted around, scoring four more to make it a 12-1 lead. That was more than enough, as Abbie Finnell came in and pitched a scoreless fifth to wrap up the game.
Erin Chapman (10-4) picked up the win, throwing four innings while giving up one run with four strikeouts.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
With Smego's three doubles on the day, she passed teammate Abbey McKee for the most doubles in a season in Heidelberg history with 20. McKee had 17 a year ago.
Atterholt became HU's career leader in innings pitched with her complete game in game one. She now has 410.2 innings, which passed Katie Allenspach (410 IP, 2006-09).
UP NEXT
Heidelberg will play their final two conference games of the season on Saturday at No. 20 Otterbein. With a sweep, HU can guarantee themselves a spot in the upcoming Ohio Athletic Conference tournament, with a number of tiebreakers coming into play with any other scenario. Game one is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. in Westerville.
