TIFFIN -- In speedy fashion, the Heidelberg University softball team swept visiting Capital University with a pair of mercy-rule victories in five innings.  HU won the opener 8-0 and the nightcap 10-2 -- taking the weekend series, three games to one.  

The series win was the second in a row for the surging Student Princes, now 8-10-1 overall and 7-9 in OAC action.  HU has won six out of their last seven games.  

The Student Princes pounded out 18 hits on the day.  Hanna Blasinsky had four of them, leading the way.  Bailee Faulkner, Riley Cruse, and Emma Dean all had three hits on the day.  Dean added four RBI.  

GAME ONE:  HEID 8   CAP 0 (5 innings)
Heidelberg manufactured a run in the first inning.  Kat Brady singled up the middle, then stole second.  She moved to third on a ground out by Hanna Blasinsky, then scored on a ground out by Shelby Miller.  

Ahead 1-0, The Berg added three more in the second.  Brooke Lewis walked and moved to second on a single by Bailee Faulkner.  The pair scored when Leah Bouillon ripped a triple up the alley in right center.  Later, Bouillon raced home on a passed ball.  

Up 4-0 in the bottom of the third, the Student Princes maintained the momentum.  Blasinsky reached on an infield single and Miller walked.  Emma Dean bounced a double inside the bag at first and into right field, plating Blasinsky.  Two walks and a few wild pitches helped bring in two more.  The fourth and final run of the inning came on an RBI single by Riley Cruse.  

While the offense put up runs, starting pitcher Caitlin Dems (3-3) dazzled.  Dems threw a two-hit shutout.  She walked one and struck out four.  

GAME TWO:  BERG 10   CAP 2 (5 innings)
With two outs, Miller reached on an error and moved to third on two wild pitches.  She trotted home on a double to the base of the wall in left by Dean.  

The Tricolor plated two more in the bottom of the third.  Blasinsky reached second on an infield single and an error.  Miller walked and gave way to pinch runner Courtney Bryson.  Dean drove in the pair with a single to right field.  

Down 3-0, Capital scored their first run of the afternoon in the third.  Heidelberg, though, answered quickly.  Cruse cruised into second with a leadoff double and moved to third on a single by Blasinsky.  She scored on a sacrifice fly by Miller.  

Capital scored again in the top of the fourth, but once again, the Student Princes responded posthaste.  Faulkner doubled to the gap in left center with one out.  Pinch runner Hailie Monhollen scored on a double by Bouillon. Following a walk to Raye Hammond, Cruse singled up the middle, plating Bouillon.  Brady reached on a fielding error, but still drove in pinch runner Brooklyn Geiger. 

Up 7-2 and still batting in the fifth, Blasinsky -- with 12 hits in her last 25 at bats -- blooped a double to left that drove in Cruse.  After a pitching change, Miller had a bunt single on a squeeze play that caught everyone by surprise.  Lewis lifted a sacrifice fly to right that scored Blasinsky with the mercy-rule clinching tally.  
Cruse (4-3) picked up her second win on the weekend, going the distance.  She allowed two runs on six hits, striking out two.  

UP NEXT: 
Ohio Northern awaits the Student Princes next weekend.  The two schools split three games to open the season, each going 1-1-1.  Saturday's games are in Tiffin and Sunday's games are in Ada.