TIFFIN -- With the roar of the crowd at Frann's Field traveling through Peaceful Valley and echoing off the recently-constructed Frann's Fieldhouse for the first time, it was only fitting for their namesake, the late Frann Zverina to sprinkle a little bit of Frann's Magic on their Heidelberg University Softball team's home opener. Heidelberg split a doubleheader with Muskingum University, walking off in the opener, 13-12, then falling in the nightcap, 10-0.
Heidelberg moved to 10-4 overall, 1-1 in the OAC. Muskingum sits at 12-2, 1-1.
Down 2-0 in the third,
Ellie Tressler cut the deficit in half with a sacrifice fly, plating
Hannah Hashman.
The Muskies erupted for seven in the fifth and were three outs away from a mercy-rule victory. Instead, the Student Princes punched back.
Leah Arnett and Hashman set the table, as they so often do, with singles.
Cara Meyer followed with a run-scoring single through the left side. A single by Tressler prompted a pitching change from the visitors -- but the Student Princes were nonplussed.
Abbie Marshall wore a pitch, forcing in Hashman.
Megan Miller followed with a base hit up the middle, scoring two.
Alexis Burton ended the scoring with an RBI groundout. HU plated five runs on five hits, but still trailed by three.
A pinch-hit, bases-loaded double by Muskingum's Elizabeth Wauford pushed Muskingum's lead to 12-6 in the top of the sixth.
Heidelberg responded with two in the bottom of the sixth. Tressler doubled in Meyer and Burton was hit by a pitch with the bases full. The Muskies, however, still held a 12-8 advantage.
In the bottom of the seventh, Arnett and Hashman set the table, as they so often do, with singles. A walk to Meyer loaded the bases. Tressler drove in two with a single through the 5-6 hole. Marshall drove a double up the gap in right center, tying the game as Meyer and Tressler raced home. Still with no outs,
Adyson Bowe sought to bunt Marshall to third. Instead, an errant throw allowed Marshall to cross the plate, completing the comeback.
It was the 24th walkoff win in the 10+ year history of Frann's Field.
In the nightcap, the Muskies poured it on late, scoring nine runs in the fifth and sixth, en route to the win.
Heidelberg is back in action on Sunday at Albion. The mid-Michigan forecast has prompted a change to the start time, with first pitch now scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
