WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Sophomore Mikaela Mitsch blasted a pair of home runs as the Heidelberg University softball team completed a split with the Cardinals of Otterbein University to finish off their slate of Ohio Athletic Conference opponents.

Entering the day the Student Princes needed to win at least one from the Cardinals and receive help from other top five teams in the conference to earn a postseason berth. Game one went the distance and was a thrilling back-and-forth contest with six lead changes.

Sophomore Paige Atterholt earned the starting nod in both of game. Atterholt threw a combined 13 innings, striking out nine.

The Cardinals took a one run lead when Atterholt and the Heidelberg defense gave up an RBI single up the middle in the first. Freshman Kyleah Brey answered with a solo home run to right field on a 2-2 count in the top of the second.

In the bottom of the second, the Student Princes retired the side in order. Otterbein retired The Berg in the top of the third after freshman Randi Kelsey knocked a lead-off double.

The Cardinals added one run in the third to take a 2-1 lead on a single to left field.

With one down in the fourth, sophomore Kayla Zachrich earned a walk followed Brey taking first on another base on balls. The Cardinals earned the second out of the inning when freshman Rachel Garris reached first on a fielder's choice, and nabbed Brey on her way to second.

Freshman Taylor Hick stepped into the chalk to drive in Zachrich on a fielder's choice.

The Student Princes held Otterbein scorless in the bottom of the frame, then added to their lead in the top of the fifth. After senior Jami Wagner rapped a leadoff single, Mitsch belted a two run home run to centerfield.

Mitsch collected her first home run of the day after battling with Otterbein starter, senior Kelsey Long.

With the Student Princes leading, 4-2, Wagner, The Berg's all-time hits leaders, slapped an RBI single up the middle of the Cardinal's defense.

Otterbein stole back the lead when senior, Kristen Kramer hit a grand slam off of Atterholt. Trailing once more, Mitsch took a 0-2 count and hammered her ninth home run of the year and second of the day.

The Student Princes took an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning where the Cardinals knocked leadoff double off of Atterholt. Sixth year head coach Betsy Hada made a pitching change following the Otterbein double that ran to the wall. Freshman Erin Chapman came on in relief, and forced the first out of the inning.

On Otterbein's Senior Day, it was the bat of freshman Lydia Barnes that stole the show. On the first pitch of the at bat, Barnes blasted a three run walk off home run to propel the Cards to a 9-8 victory.

The Student Princes sought redemption in game two, and found it.

After Wagner reached on a fielder's error, stole second and reached third on a wild pitch, Mistch claimed her fifth RBI of the day. The McHenry, Ill., native bashed a hard hit ground ball at the Otterbein third baseman, Maddy Shelley.

Game two remained at 1-0 in Heidelberg's favor until the top of the fourth. A Zachrich triple plated Brey before Hux scored Zachrich with a ground out to second.

Leading 3-0, Westerville native Lisa Simmons tripled to right center, scoring Kelsey.

Atterholt kept the Cardinals docile until they produced a would-be rally in the bottom of the seventh. The Degraff native, with the help of her defense, surrendered two runs before escaping with her 12th victory of the season.

The split improves the Student Princes to 9-9 in the OAC and 23-13 overall. The Berg's 9-9 mark in the OAC marks the most successful conference campaign since 1999's, 9-8 season.

With Muskingum and Marietta occupying the first and second seed of the OAC Tournament, wins from Baldwin Wallace and Ohio Northern ended the Student Princes post season aspirations.

The Student Princes will conclude their 2014 season tomorrow afternoon in Cleveland as they take on Case Western Reserve. First pitch of The Berg's non-conference doubleheader from Clevleand is scheduled for 2 p.m.