Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | 34-Game Season Stats
TIFFIN, Ohio—The Heidelberg University softball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader today against Otterbein University at Peaceful Valley in Tiffin, Ohio. The Berg won the first game, 4-2, but Otterbein came back to take the nightcap, 4-3.
Otterbein (24-14, 9-7) scored two unearned runs in the top of the second inning, but Heidelberg (16-18, 6-9 OAC) cut the deficit in half in the third when senior first baseman Bessie Artino (Bellevue) singled in sophomore center fielder Jami Wagner (Alvada/New Riegel).
The Berg rallied for three runs in the fifth, including a run batted-in triple by sophomore shortstop Erica Huffman (Strongsville) for what would prove to be the 4-2 final.
Wagner went 3-for-4 at the plate in game one and Artino was 3-for-3 with a double.
Junior southpaw Ali Sayre (Sylvania/Northview) allowed nine hits and struck out four in a complete game effort and improved to 6-7.
Erin Carpenter was 3-for-4 for the Cardinals.
Maggie McMahan, who also scored a run, pitched 4.2 innings and allowed all four ‘Berg runs (two earned) on 10 hits while striking out five and walking four and fell to 6-5.
In game two, a two-run home run by Artino—her team-high-tying seventh of the season—in the first inning and another run in the second got the Berg off to a 3-0 lead.
In the third, a RBI triple by Carpenter and a run-scoring single by Kayla Woodard got Otterbein on the board, and the Cardinals took a 4-3 lead in the fourth when Laura Basford singled in a run and Casey Clarridge doubled in another.
Cardinal pitcher Chelsea Burns held the Berg at bay throughout the final three frames to secure the win.
Wagner was 2-for-4 in the second game and sophomore left fielder Julie Okorn (Euclid) was 2-for-3.
Sayre also started the second game, allowing all four runs (three earned) on five hits in 3.1 innings and took the loss. Senior righty Lexie Pinkelman (Metamora/Evergreen) pitched the final 3.2 innings and struck out four.
Clarridge was 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run for the Cardinals. Carpenter went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Burns pitched 5.1 innings in relief and struck out seven and earned the win to improve to 4-4.
The Berg wraps up OAC play Saturday in a doubleheader at John Carroll University before closing the regular season Monday against The College of Wooster on Senior Night.