WOOSTER, Ohio – Don't make the Heidelberg University softball team angry. You wouldn't like them when they're angry.

After giving up a walk-off home run in a 5-4 loss to the College of Wooster in game one of a non-conference doubleheader, the Student Princes batted around and scored five times in the first inning of game two. Heidelberg went on to claim the second game, 10-5.

During the first game, two-time All-OAC honoree Jami Wagner became the program's all-time hits leader. Wagner's bunt single, the 185th hit of her career, moved her ahead of Jadie Wheeler, '99.

Wagner ignited Heidelberg's strong start in game two. The senior singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Lisa Simmons singled her to third, Wagner scored on another wild pitch. Marissa Smego socked a double to right center, allowing Simmons to score. Smego advanced to third on a one-out single by Kayla Zachrich. The pair scored when Jordan Hux tripled to left center. The next three HU batters, Kyleah Breay, Randi Kelsey and Rachel Garris walked, which forced in the fifth run of the frame.

"The girls came out swinging in game two," said head coach Betsy Hada.  "They were able to overcome the disappointment from the first game."

Heidelberg (22-12) allowed a run in the bottom of the first, but answered with a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the second. Brey's bruise brought home Mikaela Mitsch.

Wooster (12-25) plated runs on a two-run homer in the third, but again, the Tricolor responded in the next half-inning. Hux singled home pinch-runner Kendra Pratt and later scored on a Wooster error. The pair of runs gave HU an 8-3 lead.

A sacrifice fly by Simmons an RBI single by Smego pushed the Berg lead to seven.

Game two starter Erin Chapman (11-7) allowed another pair of runs in the sixth, but sealed the win with a perfect seventh inning. Chapman has fanned 81 batters this season, third-most in a season in HU history.

In the first game, Mitsch broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with her seventh home run of the year, a solo shot to left center.

The Fighting Scots tied the game off of game one starter Paige Atterholt in the bottom of the fourth. After three straight singles, a sacrifice fly brought home the equalizer.

Wagner's record-setting single came as part of HU's three-run sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Mitsch lifted a sacrifice fly to center, which plated Garris. Zachrich bounced a single through the left side to score Wagner. During the next at bat, Zachrich and Smego pulled off a double-steal and Smego scored.

"She has been such an important part of our program," Hada said of Wagner, who also holds career records for stolen bases, runs scored at bats and triples.  "Like so many of her other hits, Jami set the record using her speed."

Atterholt (11-5) ran into trouble early in the seventh, allowing back-to-back singles and committing an error that allowed a run to score. The sophomore retired the next two batters before giving up a run-scoring single. Up a run, Atterholt served up a two-run blast to left by Carly Schoenstein.

Despite the loss, Hada was pleased with her team's desire to succeed, as shown in the convincing win in the second game. 

"We were determined to take home a win today," said Hada.  "They weren't going to accept any less." 

The win in  the nightcap gives Heidelberg softball momentum heading into the final weekend of the OAC regular season. Hada's crew is in a five-team race for the final two tournament spots. While many different tie-breaking scenarios exist, Heidelberg needs to win at least one game against Otterbein, and needs Baldwin Wallace to lose at least once to have a shot at qualifying. Saturday's games at Otterbein start at 1 p.m.

Photo credit:  Tammy Zachrich