WILMINGTON -- With a late rally in game two, the Heidelberg University softball team swept a conference doubleheader at Wilmington and stretched its winning streak to six-straight OAC contests. The Student Princes won the opener, 7-4, then stole the nightcap, 7-6.
Heidelberg improved to 20-12 overall, 9-7 in the OAC.
The OAC Tournament picture is hazy because teams have played different numbers of games. However, the sweep over the Quakers on Saturday kept the Student Princes in the hunt heading into the final weekend of conference action.
GAME ONE: BERG 7-14-0 WILM 4-9-1
Scoreless in the third,
Hanna Blasinsky reached on a bunt base hit, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Kat Brady. After a sharp single by
Gabbie Stallbaum,
Meghan Bame doubled in two runs with a double to center.
HU tacked on an unearned run in the fourth and led, 3-0. The Quakers answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but saw their rally short-circuited by a line drive double play.
In the top of the fifth,
Maddie Gossard delivered a two-out, two-run single that drove in Bame and
Emma Dean.
The Tricolor rode the 5-1 advantage into the seventh. There,
Jessica Voitko had an RBI single -- her third hit of the game. Gossard drove in another run with a fielder's choice.
Down 7-1, the Quakers managed to score three runs, but 'Berg starter
Caitlin Dems worked through the trouble and finished the contest.
Dems (6-4) allowed four runs on nine hits.
GAME TWO: BERG 7-13-5 WILM 6-9-4
Wilmington led 4-0 after three innings, and held a 6-1 lead after four -- with a
Kat Brady sac fly sandwiched in between.
Heidelberg's triumphant charge began in the fifth. Bame singled and scored on a double by Dean. After Voitko drew a walk, Dean scored on a wild pitch. With two outs, Blasinsky singled in Voitko.
Down 6-4 in the sixth,
Maddie Gossard cut the deficit in half with a clutch, two-out single that drove in
Ryann Ramacciatti.
In the seventh, Heidelberg didn't manage to get the ball out of the infield, but inflicted enough damage to take the lead. Blasinsky singled to third before Brady and
Gabbie Stallbaum reached on bunt singles. With one out, Dean sent a comebacker to the mound, but the Quakers pitcher had to leap to grab it. She came down with it, but instead of trying to get the force out at home, she threw to first -- but spiked it into the dirt. The miscue allowed the speedy Blasinsky and Brady to score.
Voitko, who came on in relief in the fifth, allowed a hit in the seventh, but held on for the victory -- the first of her career. The southpaw struck out four and did not allow a run in three innings of work.
UP NEXT:
The next scheduled games for 'Berg softball are next Saturday at Ohio Northern, starting at 1 p.m. in Ada.
Photo by Kaylin Hildreth
