WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Heidelberg University softball team – no strangers to playing tournament softball in May – won its first two games in the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament on Friday, and has advanced to the championship game on Saturday. The No. 4 seed Student Princes beat top-seed Otterbein University 6-1, then turned around to defeat No. 3 seed Muskingum University, 5-4.

Heidelberg improved to 27-11 on the season.

STANDOUT STATS

Pitchers Erin Chapman and Paige Atterholt held opponents scoreless in 11 of the 14 innings played.

Heidelberg batters pounded four home runs. Bailey Smith, Mikaela Mitsch and Abbey McKee (twice) hit the four-baggers.

OAC TOURNAMENT GAME TWO: No. 4 Heidelberg 6 No. 1 Otterbein 1

Bailey Smith got the Student Princes off to a fast start by opening the game with a line drive home run to right center. After Heidelberg had loaded the bases, a fielder's choice to short off the bat of Kyleah Brey plated Mikaela Mitsch.

Leading 2-0, the Tricolor extended its lead with a solo home run to right by Mitsch in the third.

Otterbein, the tournament's top seed, scratched a run across off of HU starter Erin Chapman in the bottom of the third.

In the sixth, designated player Abbey McKee led off with a monster home run off the façade of the Clement Center in left field. Later in the inning, Marissa Smego and Mitsch were hit by back-to-back pitches with the bases loaded, which moved the HU advantage to 6-1.

Randi Kelsey made a leaping grab in right for the second out of the bottom of the sixth, which led to a 9-5-6 double play – as Heidelberg tagged out an advancing runner.

Heidelberg used another unconventional twin-killing to get out of trouble in the seventh. With two on and nobody out, Bailey McElwain – who hit three homers against Heidelberg last Saturday – sent a liner to deep right center. Taylor Hicks – who was a step away from making the catch -- fielded the ball on a hop. The runners, who froze to see if the ball was going to be caught, got a late break. McElwain was thrown out at second trying to leg out a double. After the tag, HU caught the lead runner in a run down between third and home and retired her 8-4-2-5-3-7. Chapman fanned the next hitter to seal the upset.

Chapman (12-5) went the distance, allowing just the one run on nine hits. She fanned three.

For the Heidelberg offense, it was their second win over newly crowned OAC Pitcher and Most Valuable Player of the Year Rachel Owens (15-4). The Student Princes managed just five hits – three of which were solo homers.

OAC TOURNAMENT GAME THREE: No. 4 Heidelberg 5 No. 3 Muskingum 4

After a scoreless first inning, Heidelberg broke out for a four-spot in the bottom of the second. Lisa Simmons and Hicks had RBI singles in the frame

Up 4-0 in the third, McKee laced her second solo home run of the day – a blast to straight-away center.

In the fourth, Muskingum got on the board with a solo home run off of Paige Atterholt.

Heidelberg took the 5-1 lead into the top of the seventh. With two outs and the bases loaded, a double and an infield single preceded a three-run homer by Amber Bova, making it 5-4. Atterholt got a pop out to Simmons to end the threat and to put HU into the championship game on Saturday.

Atterholt (14-5) worked the complete game, giving up four runs on seven hits. She struck out three and walked none.

QUOTES FROM THE COACH

Head coach Betsy Hada on the wins: "We came down and took care of business ... I was proud of the how we played our game and executed. I think being in the tournament last year helped our team remain focused, even when things got a little tense."

Hada on advancing to the championship game: "Our goals have remained the same all season long, and we are now one step closer ... We know that whichever team we face tomorrow will bring their best at us and we have to be ready."

CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION

Heidelberg will face the winner of Saturday's first game in the championship game. With a win, Heidelberg would advance to the NCAA Regionals as the OAC's automatic qualifier. A loss would force a winner-take-all game on Sunday. The time for Heidelberg's game is up in the air – as a stormy forecast on Saturday might force games to move up.