ADA -- Another OAC sweep has guaranteed the Heidelberg University a spot in the conference tournament for the third straight year. Behind strong pitching and timely hitting, The Berg beat Ohio Northern 4-3 and 4-1 on Saturday.

The Student Princes improved to 24-9-1 overall, 13-2-1 in the OAC. The sweep sets up a showdown vs. Otterbein University (29-6, 14-2) next weekend. Another sweep would give Heidelberg the OAC regular season crown and the right to host the four-team tournament. One Cardinal win would clinch the title for Otterbein.

GAME ONE: Heidelberg 4 Ohio Northern 3

The Tricolor pushed across all of its runs with two outs in the top of the third inning. Facing OAC wins leader Kirsten Lightel, HU pounded five hits in the frame. After Kaitlin Keys legged out an infield single, Lightel fanned the next two. Renee Lovett, who had the walk-off hit in Friday's win vs. John Carroll, followed with a single. Keys scored when Erin Chapman reached on an error. Abbey McKee, Casey Moore and Shelby Miller all followed with RBI singles.

ONU had chances to get to Chapman, but were unable to scratch any runs across until the seventh. An RBI single and a two-run homer cut HU's lead to 4-3, but Chapman secured the win with a pair of groundouts.

Chapman's string of fantastic starts -- beginning in early April -- continued with a complete game six-hitter. The senior improved to 12-4, striking out five.

GAME TWO: Heidelberg 4 Ohio Northern 1

The Student Princes manufactured a run in the top of the first. Hicks singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then raced to third on a passed ball. She scored on an RBI groundout by McKee.

Keys scored her second run of the day in the second. She was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a Christine Bowling single and a throwing error.

The HU lead ballooned to 4-0 with a pair in the fifth. McKee doubled and scored on a Miller single. Miller scored on a double to center by Randi Kelsey.

The lone Polar Bear run crossed the plate in the fifth. Gia Saturday rapped a two-out single off of Kaitlyn Moore, scoring Jenna Hollar.

Beyond that, Moore (11-4) was superb. She scattered seven hits, fanning six.

QUOTES FROM THE COACH

Head Coach Kelli Williams on the day: "I'm really proud of the way we battled today ... ONU is a very good team and we went on the road and came away with two ... I thought Erin and Kaitlyn have strung together some really good starts for us as we've improved offensively ... It's nice to clinch a spot in the tournament, but we aren't satisfied yet."

PLAYOFF PICTURE

That pesky tie with Baldwin Wallace has come back to bite HU, who now sits a half-game behind Otterbein. With 10 wins, Capital has sole possession of third place. ONU and Mount Union are tied for fourth with nine wins.

The last weekend of the series will determine which four teams will advance to the postseason. Heidelberg hosts Otterbein, Wilmington visits Mount Union, John Carroll is at Marietta, BW travels to Muskingum and ONU heads to Capital.

HU has the week off to rest before Saturday's twinbill with the Cardinals.