• SB splits, erupts for 12 runs in nightcap
• Lovett & C. Moore combine for seven hits, 4 RBI
• Rowland 2 for 2, 2 RBI as pinch hitter

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- On day two of their Florida trip, the Heidelberg University softball team split on Monday afternoon. The Student Princes were edged out by PSU-Berks 2-1 in the first game, before erupting for 12 runs in a 12-6 win over Misericordia.

On the young season, Heidelberg sits at 2-2.

KEY STATS:

Casey Moore: 3 for 5, 2 RBI
Renee Lovett: 4 for 8, 2 RBI
Bailey Smith: 2 for 6, 3 R

GAME ONE: PSU-Berks 2 Heidelberg 1

Two runs was all it took for PSU-Berks to edge past the Student Princes in game one. With runners on second and third, PSU's Heather Rissell roped a double to center, putting the Nittany Lions up 2-0. Heidelberg's Vanessa Macias escaped further damage by inducing a popout and a groundout to end the top of the fourth inning.

Senior centerfielder Haylee Patel led off the bottom of the frame with a single and advanced to second. Patel shifted over to third on a successful sacrifice bunt by Kaitlin Keys. Pinch hitting, freshman Kaylie Rowland delivered on a RBI squeeze bunt to cut the deficit in half. Despite Rowland moving into scoring position, the Berg left her stranded.

PSU-Berks retired nine consecutive Heidelberg hitters, gritting out the win over the Berg. The Student Princes left six runners on base, including runners on second and third with less than two outs twice.

Senior Renee Lovett led the Heidelberg offense, going 2 for 4 in the game. Rowland brought home the lone Student Prince RBI.

Macias (0-2) suffered the loss. She scattered eight hits over seven innings, walking none.

GAME TWO: Heidelberg 12 Misericordia 6

Desperate to push some runs across the board, Heidelberg came out swinging in the top of the first, putting up a 6 spot.

Bailey Smith, Abbey McKee, and Lovett all singled to load the bases. Lovett scored on a wild pitch before a walk was issued to Kaitlyn Moore to reload the bases. Keys singled to center to bring home Smith, and Patel followed with a 2-run single up the middle, pushing HU ahead 4-0.

After Leah Bouillon was hit by a pitch, Misericordia was forced to make a pitching change. Bases still loaded, junior Joanna Catalano hit a sac fly to score Keys, and Lovett followed it up with her second hit of the inning, driving in Patel.

It didn't take long for the Cougars to chip away at the Heidelberg lead. Misericordia's Lori Brennan belted a 3-run home run in the bottom half of the inning. The Cougars clawed back to eventually tie the game at six, but a nifty play in the 5-6 hole by Bouillon at short pushed the momentum back in favor of the Berg.

In the bottom of the fifth, Heidelberg scored five unearned runs to take an 11-6 lead. With two Student Princes aboard, who reached on errors, and two outs, Smith drew a walk. Casey Moore ripped a 2 RBI single into center, and was followed by a 2 RBI double by Abbey McKee. HU capped off its thunderous inning when Rowland hit an RBI pinch-hit single, scoring pinch runner Lauren Wolf.

Kaitlyn Moore put the exclamation mark on the game with an RBI single in the seventh. The sophomore retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning, improving her record to 2-0 this season.

Moore gave up just three earned runs over seven innings and struck out five.

UP NEXT

Heidelberg will have a Tuesday twinbill before a day off on Wednesday. HU will face off with WPI at 1:30, followed by Simmons at 3:45 p.m.