TIFFIN, Ohio -- The Heidelberg University Softball team sprinkled a little bit of Frann's Field Magic onto a non-conference doubleheader against Alma College. HU scored the go-ahead runs in their final at-bats in both halves of the twinbill, scoring five times in the sixth to win the opener, 7-3, and walking off with a 7-6 victory in the nightcap.
Heidelberg snapped a three-game skid and improved to 21-12 overall. Alma slipped to 20-8.
Cara Meyer had five hits on the day while
Hannah Hashman had four.
GAME ONE: BERG 7-9-2 ALMA 3-8-0
Scoreless through the first two innings, Alma put up a two-spot in the top of third.
In the bottom of the fourth, The Berg tied it up on
Ellie Tressler's line-drive homer to left center. The laser brought in
Abbey Hoertz who pinch ran after Meyer doubled.
The sixth inning saw a line up of runs, as the Scots took the lead 3-2 in the top of the inning.
With one out, Meyer slashed a single to right. With two outs and her dog Thor looking on,
Alexis Burton singled. Alma elected to pitch around
Abbie Marshall, loading the bases for Hashman. On the first pitch, Hashman smoked a line drive past the third baseman and drove in Meyer with the tying run. The next pitch saw
Taylor Forrest line a bases-clearing double to right center. After taking a ball,
Megan Miller capped the scoring with a triple to right center. In a span of four pitches, HU plated five runs and led, 7-3.
In the top of the seventh, Alma hitters went 1-2-3 to cap the game off.
Haley Gockstetter (W, 13-3) fired her 10th complete game of the season. She fanned three and walked none.
GAME TWO: BERG 7-11-3 ALMA 6-10-4
The Scots put up three unearned runs in the top of the first.
The Student Princes were unimpressed, and went up, 5-3, in the bottom of the first. Hashman started with a sharp single up the middle, then scored on an
Adyson Bowe bunt single because the throw to first sailed into right field. Tressler followed with a double to deep center field to bring in another run. With two outs and two on, Marshall pummeled a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left field to put the Student Princes on top.
The top of the second saw Alma retake the lead, using three more runs to go up, 6-5.
The Berg tied the game up in the bottom of the second when Meyer hit a single that brought Hashman home.
After the wildness of the first two innings, Alma and Heidelberg were scoreless until the bottom of the seventh. Arnett poked a single into shallow left center to start the frame. Marshall launched a majestic fly ball to left that was knocked down by the wind and tracked down on the warning track. Though disappointing, the fly out allowed Arnett to tag and get into scoring position. On an 0-2 pitch, Forrest delivered a single into shallow center, just past the outstretched glove of the shortstop. Arnett had to pause to ensure the ball got down, then dashed for third. Without hesitation, she turned the corner and slid into home safely with the winning run.
Kamryn Rastigue (W, 2-1) came on in relief during the second inning and threw 6.0 innings of scoreless softball. The Scots had the go-ahead run in scoring position three times, but Rastigue came through each time. She finished with four strikeouts and allowed five hits and no walks.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
The walk-off win in Game Two was the 25th walk-off win in Frann's Field history, and second of the season … The sweep of the Scots was HU's first since 2023, and only their second in program history … HU improved to 21-12 overall, their most wins in a season since winning 26 in 2018.
UP NEXT:
The Student Princes travel to Berea on Wednesday to take on the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets. The critical OAC showdown will start at 3 p.m.
