***Sunday's doubleheader against Marietta scheduled for 2 p.m.
TIFFIN, Ohio—The Heidelberg University softball team will close its four-game homestand Saturday when it hosts Marietta College in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at Hedges Boyer Park in Tiffin, Ohio. The first game is slated for 1 p.m.
Live stats for both games will be available here.
Heidelberg (12-12, 2-5 OAC) was swept Wednesday in a doubleheader by Ohio Northern University. Senior first baseman Bessie Artino (Bellevue) went a combined 4-for-8, including a home run, with two RBI and two runs scored. Senior right handed pitcher Lexie Pinkelman (Metamora/Evergreen) also homered.
Through 24 games, Artino (.425, 30 RBI, 3 HR, 19 R) has paced the offense and is tied for first in the OAC in runs batted-in, is eighth in hitting, and tied for 10th in home runs. Sophomore center fielder Jami Wagner (Alvada/New Riegel) (.398, 6, 0, 27) is fifth in the league in runs and tied for third in the OAC with 12 stolen bases. Sophomore second baseman Erica Huffman (Strongsville) (.367, 12, 0, 15) and Pinkelman (.349, 26, 6, 16) are also hovering near the .350 mark. Pinkelman is tied for third in the league in homers and fourth in RBI.
In the circle, junior southpaw Ali Sayre (Sylvania/Northview) and Pinkelman have combined to start 17 of 24 games. Sayre (3.11 ERA, 44 K, 66.2 IP) is 4-6 in 12 appearances (nine starts), and is tied for seventh in the league in strikeouts, is eighth in innings pitched and complete games (six). Pinkelman (5.32, 42, 45.2) is 3-4 in 10 appearances (eight starts) and is 10th in strikeouts and complete games (five). Freshman righty Christine Foster (Luckey/Eastwood) (4.15, 10, 30.1) is 3-1 in seven appearances (four starts).
The Pioneers (16-12, 4-6 OAC) have won five of their last eight games, but dropped a doubleheader Wednesday against Muskingum University. Kirstie Welch combined to go 4-for-7 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Offensively, the Pioneers are led by Katie Swejk (.419, 9, 0, 24), who is ninth in the OAC in hitting. Michelle Sayre (.402, 25, 2, 16) is tied for sixth in the OAC in RBI and leads the team with in home runs. Kirstie Welch (.369, 6, 0, 12) and Sarah Mayo (.366, 17, 0, 18) also anchor a batting order that his six .300 hitters.
Alexis O’Hair (3.16, 37, 95.1) and Emily Estrich (4.09, 51, 77.0) have recorded more than 90 percent of the team’s outs in the circle. O’Hair is 10-4 in 19 appearances (13 starts) and is second in wins and innings pitched and third with 10 complete games. Estrich is 5-6 in 14 appearances (all starts) with five complete games and is fifth in innings pitched and sixth in strikeouts.
Following Saturday’s doubleheader, the Berg will face Baldwin-Wallace College in an OAC doubleheader in Berea before returning to Tiffin for a six-game home stand.