CLERMONT, Florida – On social media, they dubbed it "Fight Back Friday."

Demoralized after a pair of losses on Wednesday, the Heidelberg University softball team sought to refocus during Thursday's off day and come back to the diamond ready.

After scratching out wins against Clarkson and Hope, 'Berg softball changed the verb tense.

Fight Back Friday became fought back Friday.

Behind timely hitting and incredible pitching, the Student Princes won 2-0 in the opener and 4-1 in the nightcap. The wins pushed Heidelberg's record to 6-2.

Pitchers Erin Chapman and Paige Atterholt were dominant in the circle. In seven shutout innings, Chapman struck out six and scattered four hits. The sophomore did not allow a runner to reach second base. Atterholt pitched well – and fielded well – in the second game. In limiting an aggressive Hope offense to one run, Atterholt fanned five and snared five ground balls up the middle.

Heidelberg and Clarkson were scoreless through the first five innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Abbey McKee led off by ripping a double to left center. She scored on an RBI single up the middle off the bat of Kayla Zachrich. Zachrich came around on a basehit by Randi Kelsey.

Pitching with a lead for the first time, Chapman sealed the win with a 1-2-3 seventh.

The Heidelberg offense picked right back up in game two against Hope. With one out, Marissa Smego continued her smoldering spring by lining a single to right. The Hope right fielder misplayed the ball, which allowed her to scamper to third. After McKee was hit by a pitch, Zachrich delivered a two-out RBI single down the right field line. The throw into the infield was wild and went into the Heidelberg dugout, which brought in McKee. Zachrich scored from second on an RBI single by Kyleah Brey.

Staked with a three-run lead, Atterholt worked out of a jam in the second. A one-out single and double put runners in scoring position. The next batter hit a comebacker which Atterholt gloved and fired to catcher Mikaela Mitsch, who applied the tag. Atterholt fanned the next hitter to retire the side.

In the sixth, leading 3-1, Heidelberg added an insurance run. After Hope intentionally walked McKee to get to Mitsch for the second time in the game, the dangerous HU cleanup hitter delivered an RBI single through the left side, scoring Jordan Hux.

Hope threatened in the seventh, loading the bases against Atterholt. The junior ace induced a game-ending fielder's choice – capping off Fight Back Friday.

"Erin and Paige were phenomenal," said head coach Betsy Hada. "They mixed their pitches and hit their spots."

Smego had five hits on the day, raising her batting average to a stout .565. McKee had two doubles on Friday and now has a team-high five two-baggers. Zachrich and Taylor Hicks each had three hits.

"Our defense played well, especially Taylor Hicks in center field," said Hada. "Taylor changed the game by tracking down some monster line drives from Hope."

Heidelberg softball closes out its trip to The Spring Games with its final two games on Saturday. The Student Princes take on Transylvania at 1 p.m. and Fredonia State at 3 p.m.