TIFFIN --
Caitlynn Newlen's two-out single in the seventh inning drove in
Murissa Drown with the winning run as the Heidelberg University Softball team salvaged a split against Otterbein University. The Cardinals won 8-3 in the opener, but Heidelberg walked off with a 6-5 win in the night cap.
The victory in game two was the 20th non-mercy rule walk-off win in the history of Frann's Field. Frann's Magic dates back to the inaugural games at Frann's Field -- both walk-off wins -- in 2015. HU's last walk-off in Tiffin was a 4-3 win over Albion on March 22, 2023.
GAME ONE: OTT 8-12-0 BERG 3-9-5
Aubrey Conklin doubled home a pair of runners in the bottom of the first inning, staking Heidelberg to a 2-0 lead.
Poor defense allowed the Cardinals to score three runs in the third and four in the fourth, taking total control of the game. They tacked on another in the sixth.
The Student Princes were credited with five errors, which led to four unearned runs.
GAME TWO: BERG 6-8-2 OTT 5-7-1
With her team trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first,
Ellie Tressler doubled and scored on a two-out single by
Murissa Drown. Otterbein responded with two more in the top of the second and led, 4-1.
Drown delivered again in the bottom of the third. With two outs, she doubled to deep right center and drove in Tressler and
Gabbie Stallbaum.
Caitlynn Newlen followed with a bouncer up the middle, plating Drown.
Heidelberg conceded another unearned run in the top of the sixth and Otterbein rode the momentum into the bottom of the seventh.
Tressler was plunked with a pitch and moved to second on a costly Otterbein miscue on a fielder's choice by Stallbaum. With one out, Drown sent a sharp grounder to second. This time, the Cardinals got the force at second, but Drown narrowly beat out the potential game-ending relay to first. Pinch hitter
Ryley Pittman tied the game with a single past a diving shortstop, scoring Tressler. Newlen came through with a single to right center, scoring Drown with the game-winning run.
Jessica Voitko (W, 2-10) threw a complete game, striking out a pair.
UP NEXT:
Heidelberg will host Capital on Monday for a doubleheader, originally scheduled for April 3. First pitch is at 3 p.m.
