WILMINGTON – The Heidelberg University softball team picked up another pair of wins on the road, sweeping Wilmington College, 7-1 and 5-2. With the wins, Heidelberg clinched a spot in the OAC Tournament for the first time since 1997.

The Student Princes moved to 25-5 on the season, 14-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Wilmington fell to 6-28, 2-14.

POSTSEASON PICTURE: The Student Princes hold a one game lead over second place Capital, which split with John Carroll on Saturday, with two games remaining in conference play.

Heidelberg wraps up OAC action next Saturday, hosting Otterbein. With one win, the Tricolor guarantees itself at least a split of the conference regular season title. A sweep of the Cardinals would give the Student Princes the crown outright.

The top team in the standings hosts the four-team OAC Tournament, which runs May 1-3.

KEY STATS: Renee Lovett had a five-hit afternoon to lead the Heidelberg offense ... Mikaela Mitsch and Kayla Zachrich each had four hits ... Abbey McKee and Christine Bowling added three RBI each.

GAME ONE -- HEIDELBERG 7 WILMINGTON 1: Abbey McKee ignited the Heidelberg offense in the second inning. She blasted her fifth home run of the season, a three-run shot to center.

In the fifth, Heidelberg added a pair of runs. Mikaela Mitsch drew a leadoff walk. On a basehit by Kayla Zachrich, pinch runner Kendell Queen moved to second. An error by the shortstop allowed Kyleah Brey to load the bases. Christine Bowling followed with a two-run single to right, giving Heidelberg a 5-0 lead.

Mitsch doubled home Smego and moved to third on an error early in the sixth. With two outs, Bowling delivered another RBI single. Her basehit to left pushed Heidelberg's lead to 7-0.

In the circle, Paige Atterholt improved to 10-2 with another strong start. She allowed one run on eight hits, fanning five.

GAME TWO – HEIDELBERG 5 WILMINGTON 2: Using two hit batsmen and two singles, Heidelberg took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Zachrich knocked in Renee Lovett with a basehit to left.

After Wilmington tied the contest in the second, four straight singles helped the Student Princes regain the lead at 2-1. Again, it was Zachrich with the RBI, a bouncer in the middle that scored Marissa Smego.

Heidelberg put some room between themselves and the Quakers with a three-run sixth. McKee reached and went to second on a throwing error to start. With two outs, Renee Lovett pulled a single to right center, scoring McKee. Smego drove in Lovett with a double to right center, then scored on a fielding error by the shortstop. The three unearned runs put HU up 5-1.

Cori Long, who relieved the starter Lovett in the fourth, gave up a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh. That run would later score on a defensive miscue by Heidelberg. With runners on the corners, a flyout to right ended the game.

Long (9-1) picked up the win, giving up the one unearned run in four innings. Lovett allowed one run on three hits during the first three innings.

THE QUOTE OF THE DAY: "We preach playing one game at a time," said Heidelberg head coach Betsy Hada. "Clinching a spot in the tournament is a great accomplishment, but there is more work to be done."

EXTRA BASES: With its 25th win, Heidelberg matched last year's total, which set a program record ... Atterholt moved into a second-place tie on the program's all-time wins list. With 25 wins, she equaled the mark set by Kerry Kennelty (95-98) and Laura Sullivan (88-91). Jacy Burdett (97-02) leads with 31 wins.

DEDICATION DAY: In addition to playing for a conference title, Heidelberg will officially dedicate Frann's Field before Saturday's doubleheader with Otterbein. The ceremony will begin at noon.

ON DECK: The Student Princes will travel to Delaware, Ohio, to take on Ohio Wesleyan (11-19).