BLUFFTON, Ohio -- A change of venue couldn't stymie the early season surge for the Heidelberg University Softball team, as the Student Princes traded home field for home runs -- nine, to be exact -- in a sweep of Bluffton. With a soggy Frann's Field forcing HU to head to Bluffton, Heidelberg emerged with wins of 12-3 and 22-7 over the Beavers.
Heidelberg, now 9-3, has won six in a row.
Alexis Burton pounded out three homers on the day, driving in seven.
Ellie Tressler had five hits and seven RBI while
Cara Meyer had five hits and six runs scored.
GAME ONE: BERG 12-14-4 BLUFFTON 3-5-0
Heidelberg answered the bell in the first inning, with
Ellie Tressler doubling home
Hannah Hashman and
Cara Meyer.
In the third,
Leah Arnett served a single to left center, then stole second. Meyer walked and Tressler was plunked, loading the bases.
Abbie Marshall delivered a two-run single, giving HU a 4-0 lead.
After yielding an unearned run in the bottom of the third, The Berg responded in the fourth.
Alexis Burton led off the inning with her second home run of the season -- a blast to left center.
The Beavers inched closer with a pair in the sixth.
Up 6-3, Heidelberg looked for an insurance run or two. What they got was an offensive onslaught. Tressler,
Adyson Bowe (with an unbroken bat),
Megan Miller and Burton all homered in the top of the seventh, with the final three going back-to-back-to-back. HU pushed six across the plate in the frame.
Haley Gockstetter moved to 6-1 on the campaign with a complete game five-hitter. She struck out four and did not yield a walk.
GAME TWO:
Scoreless after one, Heidelberg plated eight runs in the second. Miller had an RBI single in her first at bat of the frame, with Tressler scoring easily and Bowe racing home on an error. Burton walked, and pinch runner
Jae'Nya Witherspoon stole second.
Taylor Forrest went deep -- a three-run bomb that was The Berg's sixth of the day. An error and a
Hannah Hashman bunt single re-ignited the rally. Meyer followed with a single up the middle, plating Arnett. HU would add their final two runs on a ground out and a mishandled pop up.
Not satisfied with the 8-0 lead, Heidelberg padded their cushion with three more in the third. Tressler doubled home a pair and Marshall drove in one.
Down 11-0, the Beavers scored six times in the bottom of the third and once in the fourth.
Up 11-7, Heidelberg looked for an insurance run or two. What they got was an offensive onslaught … again. The visitors loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, then forced a run across on a four-pitch walk drawn by Miller. Burton pounced on the first pitch, blasting it over the centerfield fence for a grand slam -- her third homer of the afternoon.
Kamryn Rastigue and Arnett followed with singles, then trotted home when Meyer went yard to the opposite field. Marshall capped the fun with a two-run shot to center.
In the circle, Forrest went three innings and Rastigue pitched the final two.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
Heidelberg hasn't hit five home runs in a game since at least 2000 … The most home runs in a doubleheader since 2000 was five against Adrian in 2018 … The last time Heidelberg hit four homers in a game was April 12, 2023, when Kailyn Kroll,
Ellie Tressler and
Gabbie Stallbaum (twice) all went deep at John Carroll … Heidelberg hit back-to-back-to-back home runs at least one other time in program history, according to former coach and player, Betsy Hada, who graduated in 2001. The exact game/opponent was not immediately available … Heidelberg pounded out 32 hits on the day, the most since notching 32 in a sweep at Capital in 2019.
INJURY REPORT:
Head Coach
Mari Briggs is day-to-day with a sore high-fiving hand, but is listed as probable for this weekend's games.
UP NEXT:
Heidelberg will, at last, return to Frann's Field for the start of OAC play. The doubleheader with Muskingum is scheduled for 1 p.m.
