TIFFIN, Ohio—The Heidelberg University softball team will host Defiance College in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday, March 21 in its 2012 home opener at Hedges Boyer Park in Tiffin, Ohio. Game time for the first contest is slated for 3 p.m.
Live stats for the game will be available at here.
The Berg (7-2) returns north following a nine-game tour of the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. where it got off to a 3-0 start and won four of its last five games there.
Six of the Berg’s regular starters are hitting .300 or better, led by sophomore infielder/catcher Kelly Martz (Roseville, Mich./Lakeview) and sophomore second baseman Erica Huffman (Strongsville), each of whom are tied for eighth in the Ohio Athletic Conference with a .400 (14-for-35) batting average. Martz is also ranked among the league’s top 10 with 14 hits, four doubles, 14 runs batted-in and a .571 slugging percentage. Huffman is tied with Martz with 14 hits, has scored five runs and driven in six. Sophomore outfielder Julie Okorn (Euclid) is tearing along at .385 (10-of-26) with three doubles and eight runs scored. Senior first baseman Bessie Artino (Bellevue) is hitting .371 (13-for-35) with three doubles, eight runs and 10 RBI. Freshman utility player Ashley Kessler (North Olmsted) is batting .333 (7-for-21) and has knocked in 10 runs. Sophomore outfielder Jamie Wagner (Alvada/New Riegel) is hitting .303 (10-for-33) and is tied for third in the OAC with 11 runs scored.
On the mound, senior righty Lexie Pinkelman (Metamora/Evergreen) has anchored the pitching staff, going 2-0 in four appearances, including three starts, with 14 strikeouts and a 0.48 earned run average over 18.2 innings. She has also hurled two complete games and one shutout. Junior southpaw Ali Sayre (Sylvania/Northview) is 2-2 in four appearances (three starts) with 16 strikeouts and a 0.77 ERA over a team-high 23.1 innings and has two complete games and a shutout of her own.
Defiance (3-8) has lost three of its last five games following a doubleheader split Sunday at Albion (Mich.) College.
Katelyn Samples leads the Yellow Jackets at the plate, batting .286 (6-for-21) with three runs scored and two RBI. Stephanie Esquibel is pacing at .273 (6-for-22) with a pair of RBI. Defiance bats just .214 as a team.
Kailea Holbrook leads the pitching staff with a 2-3 record in six appearances, including five starts, and has struck out six batters and has a 3.41 ERA over 24.2 innings pitched.
Following Wednesday’s doubleheader, the Berg will travel to Bexley on Saturday, March 24 for its OAC opener at Capital University.