CLERMONT, Fla. -- Scheduled to play twice on opening day, the Heidelberg University softball suffered a 6-4 setback against Wittenberg, then had a game canceled because of an umpire shortage.  

Wittenberg scored three times in the top of the first, two of which were unearned off of starter Caitlin Dems.  

The Student Princes wasted little time getting back into the game.  With the bases empty and two outs in the bottom of the first, Emma Dean was hit with a pitch.  She moved to second on a single by Murissa Drown, then to third as Riley Cruse drew  a walk.  Dean slid home ahead of a tag on a passed ball, putting HU on the board.  Maddie Gossard lined a single into right center that plated two, tying the game at three.  

The game remained tied until the bottom of the fourth.  Cruse reached on a sharply hit ball to left that was misplayed.  While Gossard batted, Cruse advanced to third on a two-base throwing error by the Wittenberg catcher.  Moments later, Gossard delivered the go-ahead base hit with a single to left.  

Wittenberg, led by former 'Berg assistant Shannon Schaub, showed no signs of running out of gas, scoring single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth. 

Freshman right fielder Jade Torres made a diving catch in the sixth and closed the seventh by throwing a runner out at the plate.  

Dems (0-1) threw 5.1 innings and allowed six hits.  

Heidelberg had seven hits and drew four walks.  

Instead of playing Penn St. Berks as originally scheduled, the teams met for a joint practice.  

The Berg will return to action on Monday, facing Misericordia at 2:45 and Emmanuel at 5:15.