TIFFIN -- The Heidelberg University softball team rallied back in both halves of a season-opening doubleheader with Ohio Northern University.  The Berg won the opener in walk-off fashion, 10-9, then tied ONU in the nightcap, 6-6.  Game two was halted after seven innings because of darkness.  

In the twinbill, Bailee Faulkner recorded five hits, including two doubles.  Raye Hammond and Emma Dean each had four hits.  Shelby Miller added three hits, including the walk-off single in game one.  

Faulkner, Miller and Leah Bouillon -- all fifth-year players currently taking graduate coursework -- each drove in three runs.  


GAME ONE: BERG 10   ONU 9
Heidelberg struck early in game one.  Hanna Blasinsky reached on a sun-aided single to center, and moved to second on a wildly-spinning infield single by Shelby Miller.  The pair advanced on a flyout by Emma Dean then scored on a two-out base hit by Bailee Faulkner. The Berg led 2-0 after one.  

The Polar Bears answered with four runs on four hits in the second, including a pair of doubles.  

Undeterred, Heidelberg countered with a three-spot in the bottom of the inning.  The bottom of the order set the table with singles from Raye Hammond and Kat Brady. Rolling to the top of the order, Blasinsky loaded the bases with a soft single to left.  Miller walked, forcing in Hammond.  Dean, a freshman, ripped a two-run single to right.  

ONU tied the game with a two-out double in the top of the third.  

Still tied at five in the fourth, the Polar Bears took the lead with a pair of runs, one of which was unearned.  

Faulkner cut the ONU lead in half with an RBI double in the bottom of the inning.  

Both teams scored a run in the sixth, with HU's run coming on a sacrifice fly by Leah Bouillon.  

Ahead 8-7 to start the seventh, the visitors added an insurance run top of the inning -- but it would not be enough to overcome the Frann's Field Magic.

Riley Cruse, who started the game at first base but relieved starting pitcher Caitlin Dems in the third, singled up the middle to lead off.  After pinch runner Halie Monhollen moved to second on a wild pitch, she went to third on a single by Hammond.  An errant throw to the infield on the play allowed Hammond to scamper to second.  

With one out, Blasinsky sent a ball to short that was booted, which allowed Monhollen to score.  Blasinsky stole second, putting the winning run in scoring position. Miller, a graduate student well-versed in Frann's Magic, worked the count full before driving a base hit through the right side.  Hammond and Blasinsky scored, which touched off a somewhat awkward how-much-are-we-allowed-to-celebrate COVID-19 era celebration.  

Since opening in 2015, Frann's Field has now seen 18 walk-off wins.  

Cruse (1-0) picked up the win after throwing 3.2 innings in relief.  She struck out three and gave up five hits.  Dems went 3.1 innings in her collegiate debut.  

Heidelberg racked up 15 hits, with multi-hit games from Blasinsky, Miller, Dean, Faulkner, and Hammond.  


GAME TWO:  BERG 6   ONU 6
The Polar Bears scored four times in the first -- all of which came with two outs. The big blow came via a three-run homer by Sydney Motylinski.   ONU added a single run in the second and led 5-0.  

Heidelberg broke through in the fourth inning in a big way. Miller singled and scored on a double to the wall by Brooke Lewis.  Dean reached on an error, which allowed Lewis to score.  Faulkner's great day continued with a double to right center, which chased Dean to third. Bouillon plated the pair with a single up the middle. Now down a run, HU kept going.  Bouillon moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Hammond.  Pinch hitter Kirsten Kracht roped a double to the wall in left, sending Hammond to third.  She would score on a groundout by Blasinsky, capping the six-run inning.   

With the sun setting on the banks of Rock Creek, Reliever Maggie Hoffman worked out of an inherited jam in the fifth, then held the Polar Bears at bay until the top of the seventh. A leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt, a groundout and a wild pitch allowed the Polar Bears to tie the game at six.  In the bottom of the inning, HU was unable to score a run.  

Play was halted after the seventh because of darkness.  

Berg starter Rylee Tomsic went 4.1 innings and settled in nicely after the first inning.  She stuck out four.  

Lewis and Faulkner had two hits apiece.  

The game was just Heidelberg's fourth tie since 1986, and first since 2017.  Coincidentally, three of the four ties ended in a 6-6 draw.  

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID

Heidelberg head coach Mari Deppe on the performance:  "We would have loved to come away with two wins, but today was more about getting out and competing.  It was wonderful to be back on the diamond."

Deppe on individual performances: "It was great seeing production coming throughout the batting order, from the freshmen to our fifth-year players.  It was a great mix."

Deppe on the rallies: "I liked the tenacity we showed, being able to come from behind in both games. I think we showed a lot of heart out there today."

UP NEXT
Heidelberg and Ohio Northern were scheduled to play twice on Sunday in Ada, but field conditions have forced a postponement.  As per OAC policy for 2021, Monday's matchup will be a single game, starting at 4:30 p.m.