TIFFIN, Ohio—The Heidelberg University softball team will open a four-game homestand Wednesday when it faces Ohio Northern University in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at Hedges Boyer Park in Tiffin, Ohio. The first game is slated for 3:30 p.m.
Live stats for both games will be available here.
Heidelberg (12-10, 2-3 Ohio Athletic Conference) split a pair of slugfests Friday at OAC foe Muskingum University, winning the first game, 19-17, but falling in the nightcap, 11-9. Senior first baseman Bessie Artino (Bellevue) had five hits, including a grand slam, and totaled nine runs batted-in for the day, while senior right hander Lexie Pinkelman (Metamora/Evergreen) hit three home runs.
Artino (.417, 28 RBI, 2 HR, 17 R) leads the offense in batting average and slugging percentage (.611) and climbed from seventh in the OAC to first in RBI with Friday’s hitting display. She is also tied for ninth in runs scored. Sophomore center fielder Jami Wagner (Alvada/New Riegel) (.400, 6, 0, 26) is fourth in the league in runs and leads the team with 12 stolen bases. Artino and Wagner are tied for ninth in the conference with 30 hits. Sophomore left fielder Julie Okorn (Euclid) (.377, 9, 0, 16), sophomore second baseman Erica Huffman (Strongsville) (.372, 12, 0, 15) and Pinkelman (.368, 24, 5, 13) are also pacing above .350 mark. Huffman is tied for sixth in the circuit with 32 hits, while Pinkelman is tied for second in RBI.
In the circle, junior southpaw Ali Sayre (Sylvania/Northview) and Pinkelman have combined to start 16 of 22 games. Sayre (2.41 ERA, 38 K, 59.2 IP) is 4-5 in 11 appearances, is tied for ninth in the league with five complete games, and is ninth in the OAC in ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched. Pinkelman (5.32, 42, 45.2) is 3-4 in 10 appearances, including five complete games, and is tied for eighth in the league in strikeouts. Freshman righty Christine Foster (Luckey/Eastwood) (1.90, 8, 23.2) is 3-0 in six appearances and is seventh in the league in ERA.
ONU (15-5, 6-0 OAC) has won five straight games following a sweep Friday against OAC foe Otterbein University and sits atop the league standings. Abbey Bensing and Katy Newman each hurled complete games, while the Polar Bear offense rapped out 25 hits in the doubleheader, including a home run from Cassie Gaye.
Six Polar Bears are hitting above .350, led by Christin Miller (.459, 14, 0, 23), who is fifth in the OAC in batting average and hits (34), sixth in runs scored, and eighth in OBP (.494). Gaye (.403, 17, 4, 17) is tied for sixth in home runs and is 10th in runs scored. Kelly Sheridan (.371, 23, 3, 14) is tied for fourth in RBI and tied for eighth in home runs. Katie Cretin (.365, 10, 0, 11), Michelle Sweet (.361, 4, 0, 8) and Kimi Blewett (.358, 24, 8, 12) are also hitting above the .350 clip. Blewett leads the circuit in home runs and is second in RBI and slugging percentage (.849).
Newman (1.36, 25, 46.1) and Bensing (1.85, 57, 64.1) fill out the starting rotation. Newman is 6-2 in 10 appearances with four complete games, while Bensing is 6-3 in 10 appearances with nine complete games, including one shutout, and is fifth in the OAC in both strikeouts and innings pitched.
Following Wednesday’s doubleheader, the Berg will remain in Tiffin to host Marietta College in a pair of OAC games Saturday.