TIFFIN -- Late rallies in both halves of a Saturday doubleheader propelled the Heidelberg University softball team to a sweep of visiting Ohio Northern University.  HU scored three runs in the fifth inning of a 4-3 win in the first game, and four runs in the sixth inning of a 6-4 victory in the night cap.  

Heidelberg improved to 10-10-1 on the season, 9-9 in the OAC.  

Shelby Miller had a team-high four hits, including a pair of doubles.  Riley Cruse and Brooke Lewis both had three hits.  

GAME ONE: BERG 4   ONU 3

After Ohio Northern got on the board in the first, Heidelberg tied the game in the bottom of the third.  Kat Brady reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second.  With two outs, she scored easily on a double to deep center by Shelby Miller.  

Undeterred, the Polar Bears answered with two runs in the top of the fourth.  However, 'Berg starter Caitlin Dems stranded runners on second and third -- two of 10 ONU would strand in the game.

In the fifth, Heidelberg took the lead.  Miller bounced a single up the middle, then trotted around the bases as Brooke Lewis walked and Bailee Faulkner was hit by a pitch.  With two outs, Leah Bouillon blistered a bases-clearing double to center, stopping at second with a triumphant fist pump.  

The Polar Bears threatened in the top of the seventh.  The leadoff batter was hit by a pitch, but Dems got the first out on a terrific sliding catch in shallow center by Brady.  The second out was recorded on a quirky fielder's choice.  With two outs, Dems walked the next batter, then gave way to reliever Riley Cruse.  Cruse earned her first save of the season by inducing a pop up to Emma Dean at short -- sealing the win.  

Dems (4-3) worked 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits.  

GAME TWO: BERG 6   ONU 4

Dean kicked off the second with a double to the gap in left center.  Lewis plated Dean with a bouncer up the middle.  

Heidelberg held the lead into the fourth inning.  The Polar Bears scored twice in the fourth and once in the fifth.  

Down 3-1, the Student Princes cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the fifth.  After  Raye Hammond singled to left center, Cruse reached on a ground ball to third.  On the play, the throw to first sailed high and bounced out of play -- allowing Hammond to score.     

Trailing by a run, Miller led off the sixth with a double to right center.  Pinch runner Courtney Bryson tied the game when she scored on a single to left center.  Bailee Faulkner delivered a double to left center that scored pinch runner Alyssa Bennett.  A sharp single and stolen base by Bouillon put runners in second and third with one out.  With the infield in, Hammond sent a slow bouncer to second, but pinch runner Brooklyn Geiger slid in ahead of the tag.  Hammond intentionally got caught in a rundown which allowed Bouillon to score easily.  
Ohio Northern would scratch a run across in the seventh, but Cruse (5-3) picked up the win.  She went all seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, with four strikeouts.  

UP NEXT
If the early bird does, in fact, get the worm, the Student Princes and Polar Bears will find out on Sunday.  The doubleheader in Ada had been moved up to a 9 a.m. start.