TIFFIN -- On Senior Day, the Heidelberg University softball team dispatched the Marietta College Pioneers with a pair of shutout victories -- 3-0 and 4-0. The sweep keeps the Student Princes (20-9-1, 9-2-1 OAC) in the hunt for the top spot in the conference. Marietta dropped to 11-21, 3-9.

The shutout sweep was the first for Heidelberg since they blanked Capital, 1-0 and 2-0 on April 13, 2016.

STANDOUT STATS

Shelby Miller was 3 for 4 with four RBI

Taylor Hicks had three hits, including a triple and a double -- and scored three runs.

Erin Chapman and Kaitlyn Moore each fired shutouts -- yielding a combined nine hits.

GAME ONE: Heidelberg 3 Marietta 0

The Student Princes scored single runs in the third, fourth and sixth to emerge with the 3-0 victory.

In the third, Hicks rocked a triple to right center -- HU's first hit of the day. She sprinted home on a squeeze bunt by Renee Lovett.

Abbey McKee launched her first home run of the season with one out in the fourth -- the 18th of her career.

Pinch runner Leah Bouillon scored on a Bailey Smith single in the sixth.

All the while, Chapman (10-4) dazzled in the circle. She scattered three hits -- two of which came in the first inning. She went the distance, striking out two.

GAME TWO: Heidelberg 4 Marietta 0

As they did in the first game, the Student Princes got on the board with a squeeze bunt. Hicks, who led off the game with double down the left field line, scored on a beautiful bunt by Shelby Miller.

The switch-hitting Miller drove in two more in the fourth with a two-out basehit to right center. HU loaded the bases with two walks and a fielding error before Miller served an 0-1 pitch the opposite way to drive in Kelsey and Hicks.

Marietta threatened in the top of the fifth, putting runners on the corners with a double and a single. Kaitlyn Moore snared a screaming line drive back up the middle and doubled off a Pioneer at first to end the inning.

The Shelby Miller Show continued in the sixth. Three singles loaded the bases for the freshman, who delivered a bloop basehit just in front of diving Ali Prolongo in right.

While the Heidelberg offense produced, Moore (9-4) was solid in the circle. She went all seven innings and limited the Pioneers to six hits.

QUOTES FROM THE COACH

Head Coach Kelli Williams on the performance of the pitchers: "I thought Erin and Kaitlyn did a great job of mixing their pitches and hitting their spots ... They kept Marietta off balance and got them to hit a lot of weak pop ups and fly balls."

Williams on the contributions of her seniors: "Coming in new this year, I have relied upon all four of these seniors for their experience and leadership ... I will be forever grateful for each of them."

Williams on Shelby Miller: "Shelby took her opportunity today and ran with it ... She did a great job of putting the ball in play and good things happened because of it."

EXTRA BASES

Between games, the Softball program honored its four seniors -- Christine Bowling, Erin Chapman, Taylor Hicks and Randi Kelsey.

Heidelberg eclipsed the 20-win plateau for the fourth straight year.

UP NEXT

Heidelberg returns to Frann's Field on Wednesday for a doubleheader against John Carroll (17-11, 7-5 OAC). The twinbill is slated for a 3 p.m. start.