WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- On the final day of the regular season, the Heidelberg University softball team clinched a spot in next weekend's Ohio Athletic Conference tournament. The Student Princes split a doubleheader with No. 20 Otterbein University -- winning the first game 9-6 before falling in the nightcap 9-7 in eight innings. With the split, HUclaims the fourth seed in the four-team tournament.

Heidelberg finishes the regular season at 25-11, 10-8 in the OAC. Otterbein moved to 27-7-2, 16-2 in conference action.

Mikaela Mitsch tallied four hits on the day, bringing her total to 194 career hits -- surpassing the program record of 193 hits, set by Jami Wagner (2011-14). Marissa Smego had a pair of hits in the sweep, bringing her career total to 193, tying Wagner for second all-time.

Game 1: Heidelberg 9 Otterbein 6

Otterbein took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning off of HU's Erin Chapman.

Heidelberg answered in the top of the third inning. After Bailey Smith rapped her second hit of the game and moved to second on a Marissa Smego sacrifice bunt, she scored on an RBI double by Mikaela Mitsch.

Kyleah Brey ignited a five-run fourth with a solo home run that put the Student Princes up 2-1. Randi Kelsey followed with a double and moved to third on a single by Taylor Hicks. Kelsey scored as Hicks intentionally got caught in a rundown. Hicks, who was safe on the rundown play, scored on a throwing error by the Otterbein pitcher. Smego followed with an RBI single up the middle, plating Smith. Mitsch chased her home with her second double of the game. Up 6-1 with Mitsch on third and Kayla Zachrich on second, Abbey McKee loaded the bases with an infield single.

Otterbein cut into the five-run hole with a solo home run off of Chapman, who then retired three straight.

Heidelberg went up 9-2 in the sixth, using two hits and two errors to score three unearned runs.

The Cardinals made it 9-3 with a run in the bottom of the sixth. In the seventh, a three-run home run by Bailey McElwain -- her second of the game -- made it 9-6. Undaunted, Chapman induced a game-ending groundout to second.

Chapman (11-4) worked the complete game, allowing six runs (three earned) on 10 hits. She struck out five.

Game 2: Otterbein 9 Heidelberg 7 (8 innings)

HU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run home run by Kayla Zachrich.

McElwain socked her third home run of the afternoon in the third, a three-run shot that put the hosts up 3-2.

Otterbein tacked on four more in the fifth and took a 7-2 lead into the top of the seventh.

With steely resolve, the Student Princes rallied to tie the game. Taylor Hicks singled home pinch runner Christine Bowling. Later, Randi Kelsey scored on an error, making it 7-4. Mitsch followed with her record-setting 194th career hit -- a two-run single through the left side. Renee Lovett scored the tying run on a basehit by Zachrich and an error in right field.

Chapman, who relieved game two starter Paige Atterholt in the fifth, worked a 1-2-3 seventh to force the game into extra innings.

Heidelberg opened the extra frame in promising fashion, drawing a pair of walks, but they were then retired in order to keep the game tied.

Otterbein took the momentum from working out of that jam and hit a walk-off, two run home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to earn the split.

QUOTES

Head coach Betsy Hada on qualifying for the tournament: "I'm very proud of our girls for their fight.  They were down early but responded well."

Hada on Mitsch breaking the all-time hits record: "Train has worked incredibly hard for four years.  This is a testament to her work ethic and how great of a hitter she is."

UP NEXT

As the fourth seed, Heidelberg will open with top-seeded Otterbein in the first round of the OAC Tournament. The tournament is scheduled to run Friday-Saturday-Sunday at RIke Field in Westerville.