TIFFIN -- After dropping a game one slugfest, the Heidelberg University softball team rebounded in game two for a split with the University of Mount Union Saturday afternoon. The Purple Raiders took the first game 10-5 before HU held on for a 3-2 win in the nightcap.

Randi Kelsey, Bailey Smith, and Casey Moore all had three hits on the afternoon, combining for 5 RBI.

With the split, Heidelberg improves to 13-7, 3-1 OAC. MTU falls to 8-12, 2-2 in conference play.

GAME ONE: Mount Union 10 Heidelberg 5

The Purple Raiders got on the board first with a single in the top of the second inning. The MTU lead was short lived, as Heidelberg evened the score in the bottom of the frame.

Casey Moore led off the inning with a single through the left side and advanced to third on a single by Smith. Kaitlyn Moore doubled home Casey Moore to tie the game at 1.

The Student Princes took a 3-1 lead after three innings. With two outs, Casey Moore belted a homerun to left field that also scored Renee Lovett.

Brooke Cox hit her second double of the game to lead off the fourth inning for Mount Union. After starting pitcher Erin Chapman retired the next two hitters, Jordan Kramer doubled to plate Cox. MTU cut the Berg lead to 3-2.

The visiting Purple Raiders scored three times in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. A leadoff triple by Emily Hume and a walk to Logan Lehman put runners at the corners with no outs. A single from Morgan Riley brought home Hume and pushed pinch runner Jenna Liles to third. Back-to-back sac flies brought in two runs for a 5-3 MTU lead.

The Berg brought the score to within one in the sixth. Senior Randi Kelsey lined a ball to right to bring in Smith.

Looking for an insurance run, Mount Union sent nine hitters to plate in an explosive seventh inning. The Purple Raiders added five runs in the inning to take a commanding 10-4 lead.

Heidelberg tacked on one run in the bottom of the inning, but fell short in its final at bats.

Chapman (6-3) suffered the loss. Allie Scali (3-7) picked up the win for MTU.

GAME TWO: Heidelberg 3 Mount Union 2

Kaitlyn Moore was dominant in the circle in the nightcap. The freshman worked a no-hitter until the top of the sixth, when Brittany Baitt hit a liner up the middle.

Kaitlin Keys led off the third inning with a double to left centerfield. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Hicks and scored on a Lovett single to left field. The Purple Raiders escaped the inning by turning a rare 6-4-3 double play.

MTU evened the score at 1 in the fifth. A walk, sac bunt, and fielding error allowed the Purple Raiders to scratch across a run in the top half of the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, the Student Princes regained the lead with some nifty baserunning and timely hitting. Hicks slapped a single through the left side. Lovett followed with a grounder to second base. Hicks backpedaled to avoid the tag from the MTU second baseman. Forced to throw to first base, the throw went high to allow Lovett to reach and Hicks to move to second.

Chapman and Smith each hit RBI singles to give the Berg a 3-1 lead after five innings.

A Lehman double in the sixth cut the HU lead to 3-2 before Kaitlyn Moore got help from her defense to eliminate further damage.

Moore got MTU's clean up hitter to fly out on a deep fly ball to centerfield. The base runner on second was thrown out trying to advance to third on a gorgeous throw by Hicks. The throw ended the inning and allowed for HU to escape with surrendering one run.

Moore retired the Purple Raiders in order in the seventh to earn her sixth win of the season. She gave up two hits and struck out six in the victory.

EXTRA BASES

The Student Princes made a number of spectacular defensive plays on the afternoon. Smith and Kelsey each had sliding catches in the outfield, along with a snow-cone grab in foul territory by Kelsey.

In the seventh inning in game two, shortstop Leah Bouillon made a diving stop up the middle and threw the runner at first out from her knees.

Casey Moore's home run in game one puts her in sole possession of first place in the OAC for long balls. The blast was the freshman's fifth of the season.

UP NEXT

The Berg will have a quick turnaround as it plays host to Adrian College (2-14) tomorrow. First pitches on Sunday are slated for 1 and 3 p.m.