WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – After a week in the Florida heat, the Heidelberg University softball team's bats finally got scorching hot.
Backed by two dominant offensive games, The Berg wrapped up its Florida trip with wins over Gordon and Monmouth. Heidelberg took the first game over Gordon, 13-4, before knocking off the Scots, 14-1.
On the day, the Student Princes crushed 35 hits and scored 27 runs
Junior shortstop
Emma Dean was phenomenal all day, going 6 for 6 while driving in eight runs in the doubleheader.
GAME ONE: Heidelberg 13 Gordon 4 (5 innings)
Murissa Drown's power continued to shine, adding three hits – all for extra bases – to the stat line. Drown clubbed her second homer in as many days while driving a pair of doubles.
A five-run first set the tone early on, as Heidelberg pounded out eight hits in the frame.
Hanna Blasinsky led off with an infield single and came around to score one batter later, thanks to the speed of
Alyssa Bennett coupled with an error. Dean smacked an RBI single to push the Student Princes ahead, 2-0.
Two hitters later, Drown cranked a one-out homer to left center, driving in pinch runner
Morgan Woycitzky for a four-run cushion.
Meghan Bame,
Ellie Tressler and
Gabbie Stallbaum recorded three straight singles to cap off the scoring in the first.
Gordon responded with three runs in the second, but Heidelberg immediately answered with a run in the home half. Back to back two-out doubles from Drown and Bame inflated the Student Prince lead back to three. Dean punched an RBI single up the middle in the third to build the Berg to a 7-3 advantage.
In the fourth, Heidelberg scored six runs off five hits, aided by three Gordon errors. The inning was highlighted by Tressler belting her first collegiate home run, a three run shot to left, driving in Drown and Bame.
Junior
Caitlin Dems (2-1) allowed just two earned runs through five innings of work. Dems struck out four while allowing just one free pass in the win.
Dean was a perfect 4 for 4 from the plate, driving in three runs.
GAME TWO: Heidelberg 14 Monmouth 1 (5 innings)
Similar to game one, it took just three batters for the Student Princes to take a 3-0 lead. Blasinsky and
Jade Torres led off the game with hits. With two aboard, Dean homered to right center to plate three runs early.
Monmouth's lone run came in the bottom of the first. The run was quickly erased in the top of the second when the Student Princes got another big inning – this one featuring seven runs on five hits. In the inning, Heidelberg received two-run hits from Tressler and Bame.
Heidelberg tacked on three more in the third thanks to RBI singles by Dean, Bame and
Jessica Voitko.
In addition to Dean's five RBI, the Student Princes saw three more driven in off the bat of Bame.
Voitko (3-2) picked up the win on the mound, while
Payton Scheid struck out five in relief.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
The 19 hits in game one were the most since last year's 14-9 victory over Denison, where The Berg collected 19 hits as well.
Heidelberg now sits at 5-5 overall, the third straight spring trip coming back with at least a .500 record.
Tressler, last seen deftly(?) climbing the rocks at Bonanza Golf, threw out five would-be base stealers on the trip.
UP NEXT
The Student Princes will return to the Buckeye State for a non-conference doubleheader at Bluffton on Mar. 15. First pitches are slated for 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Kendall Bukuras, Gordon Athletics
