DEFIANCE, Ohio – Despite a frigid afternoon, the Heidelberg University softball team managed to split with Defiance on Thursday. 

On the day, Murissa Drown led batters with three hits and two RBIs, while Caitlynn Newlen matched three hits and one RBI. Ellie Tressler had two hits and two RBIs. 

GAME ONE: BERG 7-6-1    DEF 6-10-3

Heidelberg grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second when Aubrey Conklin scored on a single and an error off the bat of Jade Torres. 

With two outs in the top of the third, Gabbie Stallbaum slashed a double down the left field line. Ellie Tressler followed with a single to left center that allowed Stallbaum to score, sliding around the catcher. 

Defiance cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the third, then enjoyed a five-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth.  

Trailing 6-2, Murissa Drown sent a jolt of energy into the first base dugout with a two-run homer in the top of the sixth.  

Down 6-4 in the top of the seventh, Heidelberg used three walks to load the bases with one out. Caitlynn Newlen dropped a single into the area behind first base, bringing the Student Princes to within one. 

A bit of confusion set in with Torres at bat. The junior sent a ground ball to the left side that reached the shortstop at the exact same time pinch runner Lacey Fickes abruptly stopped on the basepath, so as not to interfere with the fielder. The shortstop misplayed the ball, which allowed pinch runner Hannah Hashman to score the tying run with ease. Perhaps thinking she was out due to interference, Fickes jogged down the third base line, toward the 'Berg dugout on the other side of the field. Since time had not been called, nor had she been called out, Fickes was able to score the go-ahead run 

On to close out the game, Jessica Voitko worked a 1-2-3 seventh to earn her second save of the year. Kailyn Kroll worked a total of 5.0 innings in two stints inside the circle. She allowed one run on seven hits, improving to 3-0 on the year. 

GAME TWO: DEF 4-8-1  BERG 3-8-1

Both teams were held scoreless until the third inning when both teams tallied one apiece. A Morgan Woycitzky single to second moved Lillie Robeson to second, where Shannon Wyatt entered to pinch run. The Defiance pitcher threw a wild pitch to move runners to second and third, giving way for Ellie Tresslers RBI single. 
In the bottom, the Yellow Jackets used a walk, single, and sacrifice fly to round the bases and tie it up 1-1. 

The hosts took off in the bottom of the fifth, as they used momentum from two hits and a Heidelberg error to score on a critical three-run double, for a 3-1 lead. 

The Student Princes fired back in the sixth, taking two more with a two-out rally that included four singles and a wild pitch. Batters Murissa Drown, Jessica Voitko, Caitlynn Newlen and Lillie Robeson all recorded hits. 

After holding Defiance scoreless in the bottom half, The Berg was retired in order in the top of the seventh, for a 4-3 loss. 

UP NEXT: 
Heidelberg's Saturday games at Adrian have been postponed, with no make-up date at the moment. They will be at home on Monday for a pair against Hiram, slated for a 3:30 p.m. start.