Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | 9-Game Season Stats
CLERMONT, Fla.—The Heidelberg University softball team wrapped up play at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. today, splitting a doubleheader with the University of Wisconsin – Stout and Fitchburg State (Mass.) University. The Berg fell to Stout, 3-1, but came back to beat Fitchburg, 8-1, and return north with an 7-2 overall record. Freshman right hander Christine Foster (Luckey/Eastwood) hurled her first career complete game against Fitchburg.
Against Stout, sophomore second baseman Erica Huffman’s (Strongsville) run batted-in single in the bottom of the second inning gave the Tri-Color a 1-0 lead.
Junior left handed pitcher Ali Sayre (Sylvania/Northview) retired nine of the first 12 batters she faced, but a pair of errors in the Stout fourth led to two runs before Sayre was relieved by senior righty Lexie Pinkelman (Metamora/Evergreen).
Stout tacked on an insurance run in the fifth and the Blue Devils allowed just one ‘Berg base runner over the final three frames to secure the win.
Sophomore center fielder Jamie Wagner (Alvada/New Riegel), sophomore left fielder Julie Okorn (Euclid) and Huffman recorded the only hits for Heidelberg and freshman designated hitter Erika Jordan’s (Bellevue) scored the team’s lone run.
Sayre worked 3.1 innings, allowing two runs (none earned) on two hits while striking out three batters. Pinkelman closed out the last 3.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits.
Against Fitchburg, three errors and a trio of hits open the gates for a six-run first inning for Heidelberg.
FSU tallied a run in the bottom of the first, but the Berg regained a six-run lead in the third with another run.
An RBI double by sophomore first baseman Melissa Lovati (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Lakeview) in the fifth inning scored freshman Megan Dragony (Brunswick), who was pinch running, for what would prove to be the 8-1 final.
Okorn led the Tri-Color at the plate by going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Lovati and junior shortstop Bridget Moran (Lakewood/Senior) each knocked in two runs.
Foster scattered five hits and struck out three batters without allowing a walk en route to her first career complete game.
Heidelberg returns to the diamond Wednesday, March 21 for a non-conference doubleheader against Defiance College at 3 p.m. at Hedges Boyer Park in Tiffin.