WESTERVILLE -- The Heidelberg University softball team rallied back in the sixth inning of game two to earn a split with Otterbein on Sunday. After the schedule changes on Saturday, Heidelberg wins the weekend series 2-1 against the Cardinals.
The Student Princes improve to 12-17-1 (11-16) while the Cardinals are now 12-19 (9-18) in the 2021 season.
GAME ONE: BERG 1 OTTERBEIN 9 (5 Innings)
The Student Princes were defeated in five innings in the first game of the day.
Caitlin Dems started on the mound for The Berg and was credited with the loss.
The Cardinals had amassed a lead of 8-0 by the end of the second inning.
Heidelberg recorded just three hits in the game with two coming from
Shelby Miller. The lone run for Heidelberg was in the fourth inning and was scored on a single to left field by Miller.
GAME TWO: BERG 2 OTTERBEIN 1
Heidelberg contested game two with
Riley Cruse at Pitcher. The sophomore pitched all seven innings and allowed 11 hits.
Both teams struggled offensively early on, with only four hits in the first two innings.
Otterbein scored first with a run in the bottom of the third, the Cardinals recorded three hits and also left runners on first and third.
The Cardinals also left runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings but could not complete the scoring plays.
The Student Princes had the tying run on third in the top of the fifth but a ground out got the Cardinals defense off the field.
Down 1-0 in the sixth inning, Heidelberg began to gain some momentum.
Leah Bouillon was hit by a pitch to start the inning. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and a double from
Emma Dean put Bouillon in scoring position. A single up the middle from catcher
Brooke Lewis knocked Bouillon home for the score. Otterbein ended the inning with a double play on the next batter.
The Berg quickly escaped the bottom of the sixth and took to the plate again with momentum on its side.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Bouillon hit a double to right field, bringing
Brooke Johnson home for the go-ahead run. Otterbein scored an out on the next play, leaving two runners on base for The 'Berg heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Heidelberg defense stayed strong in the final frame of play and prevented a single hit from Otterbein to go through. An out in foul territory from Miller sealed the game for the Tricolor and salvaged a split after a disappointing game one.
UP NEXT:
Heidelberg will play a weekend set against John Carroll next weekend with the Student Princes hosting the doubleheader on Saturday.
Photo by Sean Moreno -- Otterbein Sports Information
