TIFFIN, Ohio—The Heidelberg University softball team will continue its 10-game road trip Saturday when it faces Wilmington College in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader in Wilmington, Ohio at 1 p.m. The Berg is seeking to end a five-game losing slide.
Live stats for both games will be available here.
Heidelberg (9-7) enters the contests after falling Wednesday to Capital University, 6-5, in 10 innings in the OAC opener for both teams. The second game of what was scheduled to be a doubleheader was halted in the fifth inning and called due to darkness.
Senior right handed pitcher Lexie Pinkelman (Metamora/Evergreen) was 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and sophomore centerfielder Jami Wagner (Alvada/New Riegel) was 2-for-5 with one RBI and a run scored. Pinkelman allowed 13 hits and struck out 11 batters in 9.0-plus innings, but was tagged with the loss.
Through 16 games, sophomore second baseman Erica Huffman (Strongsville) (.403, 9 RBI, 0 HR, 10 R) leads the team with a .439 on-base percentage and is currently riding a team-best seven-game hitting streak. Senior first basemen Bessie Artino (Bellevue) (.388, 15, 0, 11) is tied for fifth in the OAC in RBI and is second on the team with a .510 slugging percentage and .933 on-base-plus slugging percentage. Wagner (.375, 1, 0, 19) is tied for second in the league in runs scored and has a team-high 10 stolen bases and eight multi-hit games. Pinkelman (.333, 16, 1, 7) is tied with sophomore third baseman Kelly Martz (Roseville, Mich./Lakeview) (.295, 16, 0, 10) for fifth in the conference in RBI.
In the circle, junior southpaw Ali Sayre (Sylvania/Northview) and Pinkelman have combined to start 11 of 16 games. Sayre (1.07 ERA, 26 K, 42.0 IP) is 3-3 in seven appearances, including three complete games and one shutout, and is third in the OAC in ERA and ninth in innings pitched. Pinkelman (2.88, 38, 40.2) is also 3-3 in eight appearances, including five complete games, and is third in the league in strikeouts and 10th in innings pitched.
Wilmington (9-11) has lost seven of its last ten games following a split Sunday at Marietta College and faces Hanover (Ind.) College today. Brooke Byrne (.406, 13, 2, 16), is sixth in the OAC in runs scored and has a team-high 1.128 OPS. Kelsey Becker (.372, 8, 0, 2) is second on the team with a .535 OBP. Chelsea Morrow (.333, 6, 0, 6) leads the Quakers with four stolen bases in five attempts.
Danielle Monnier (2.79, 53, 62.2) and Jess Clutter (3.72, 33, 58.1) have combined to start all 20 of Wilmington’s games. Monnier is 5-5 in 13 appearances with six complete games and two shutouts and is holding opposing batters to a .229 average. Clutter is 4-6 in 11 appearances with five complete games and one shutout of her own.
Following Saturday’s doubleheader, the Berg will face Case Western Reserve University in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday in University Circle.