Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | 22-Game Season Stats
NEW CONCORD, Ohio—Senior first baseman Bessie Artino (Bellevue) racked up nine runs batted-in and senior righty Lexie Pinkelman (Metamora/Evergreen) hit three home runs today as the Heidelberg University softball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at Muskingum University at Donna J. Newberry Field in New Concord, Ohio. The Berg outslugged Muskingum, 19-17, in the first game, but dropped the nightcap, 11-9.
Both teams combined to score in 11 of 14 turns at bat and exchanged leads on three occasions. The Fighting Muskies (13-13, 2-4 OAC) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but came up short.
Artino was 3-for-5 at the plate in the first game with a double, home run, eight RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore second baseman Erica Huffman (Strongsville) was 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs and sophomore center fielder Jami Wagner (Alvada/New Riegel) was 3-for-3 with two RBI, three runs and a walk. Pinkelman also hit a home run.
Pinkelman started on the mound and allowed eight runs one six hits while striking out three and walking five over 2.2 innings. Freshman right hander Christine Foster (Luckey/Eastwood) came on in relief, but did not record an out. Junior southpaw Ali Sayre (Sylvania/Northview) pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowed four runs on four hits and freshman right hander Ashley Kessler (North Olmsted) pitched 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, but earned her first victory.
Apryl Patterson was 4-for-6 with two RBI and two runs for Muskingum. Ashley Price gave up seven runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of relief and suffered the loss to fall to 5-3.
In game two, Muskingum scored four runs in each of the second and third innings to jump out to an 8-0 lead.
A two-run blast by Pinkelman in the fourth inning got Heidelberg (12-10, 2-3 OAC) on the board.
The Fighting Muskies added another run in the fourth and two in the sixth.
The Tri-Color began its comeback attempt in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs, and plated four more in the seventh, including another home run by Pinkelman—her third of the day and fifth of the season—as Heidelberg to within striking distance, but the rally fell short.
Pinkelman was 2-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored in the second game. Wagner and Artino also had two hits, including a triple by Wagner and a double by Artino.
Sayre started and pitched 2.1 innings, allowing eight runs (three earned) on eight hits and took the loss to fall to 4-5. Kessler again worked in relief, surrendering three runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings.
Patterson was 4-for-5 with three RBI and one run for the Muskies, while Kallie Coy was 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Rachel Bannister worked 5.2 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and improved to 1-1. Ashley Gilbert tosses 1.1 innings out of the bullpen and allowed four runs on three hits.
The Berg will return to Tiffin to host its first doubleheader in nearly three weeks when it faces Ohio Northern University in a pair of OAC games Wednesday.