TIFFIN -- On an emotional Senior Day, the Heidelberg University softball team fought back to earn a split with Ohio Northern University. ONU won the opener, 8-3, before Heidelberg rallied for a 2-1 win in the nightcap.

With the split, Heidelberg moved to 22-10 overall, 9-7 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Ohio Northern stands at 21-15, 10-6 in the OAC.

GAME ONE: Ohio Northern 8 Heidelberg 3

Heidelberg jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. With runners on the corners and two outs, Abbey McKee lined a double deep down the left field line, scoring Marissa Smego and Kayla Zachrich.

Ohio Northern took the lead in the top of the third with three runs, including two unearned off of Erin Chapman. Chapman walked in a run before two more scored on a throwing error. The damage could have been worse if not for a dynamite defensive effort by Smego, who made a diving snare of a hard liner down the first base line, then rolled and tagged first with her glove for a double play.

The Polar Bears extended their lead with a two-run double by Amanda Lahti in the fourth. Again, the damage would have been worse if not for another outstanding defensive play. On a single to center, Taylor Hicks gunned down a runner at the plate.

After ONU added a run on a solo homer to make it 6-2 in the top of the sixth, Heidelberg added a run in bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded and one out, pinch hitter Kyleah Brey lifted a sacricfice fly to right, which scored pinch runner Renee Lovett. The Student Princes would leave the bases loaded, down 6-3.

The Polar Bears added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, then worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning for the 8-3 win.

Chapman (9-4) took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits and eight walks in 5.2 innings.

GAME TWO: Heidelberg 2 Ohio Northern 1

After teams were held scoreless through two, a sacrifice fly put ONU up 1-0 in the top of the third.

Heidelberg was held hitless until the bottom of the sixth when Taylor Hicks and Bailey Smith led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After the first out of the inning was recorded on a lineout to center, Hicks scored on a wild pitch.  On the play, the catcher's throw to the plate rolled up the third base line -- and Smith deftly scampered home which gave HU a 2-1 lead.

Paige Atterholt (12-5), sharp throughout, allowed a two-out walk in the seventh, but kept ONU off the board.  She threw a complete game, allowing one run on six hits. She fanned six and walked two.  

Kirsten Lightel (13-5) went the distance in both games for Ohio Northern.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

Following the game, Heidelberg softball recognized its five seniors -- Paige Atterholt, Lisa Simmons, Marissa Smego, Kayla Zachrich and Mikaela Mitsch -- with an on-field ceremony.  The five seniors helped the program improve from a 2-16 OAC record as freshmen to 16-2 and championships as juniors.  

Heidelberg controls its own destiny with regard to the upcoming OAC Tournament. With two wins at first-place Otterbein next Saturday, the Student Princes would clinch a spot in the four-team tournament.

QUOTES FROM THE COACH

Heidelberg head coach Betsy Hada on fighting back for the split: "We know how tough Northern is to beat, but we knew we needed to come away with at least one win. I was proud of the way we responded."

Hada on the impact of the five seniors: "I can't overstate how much these girls have meant to me, to our program and to our university. When they graduate, they will have left their mark."

UP NEXT

HU bounces into non-conference action on Thursday with a twinbill at home against The College of Wooster. Game one is set to start at 3:30 p.m.