***Doubleheader postponed until Sunday 1 p.m.
TIFFIN, Ohio—Fresh off its first doubleheader sweep since March 21, the Heidelberg University softball team will look to carry its momentum into the opening series of a six-game homestand Saturday when it hosts the University of Mount Union in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at Hedges Boyer Park in Tiffin, Ohio. The first game is slated for 1 p.m. The Berg will follow-up Saturday’s twinbill with two non-conference games Monday against Alma (Mich.) College.
Live stats for both games will be available here.
Heidelberg (15-13, 5-6 OAC) currently sits in a tie with Capital University for fifth place in the league standings, but stands a chance to jump into third with Saturday’s league slate of games. Senior first baseman Bessie Artino (Bellevue) and senior catcher Megan Reinhart (Tiffin/Fostoria Hopewell-Loudon) each hit two home runs and senior right handed pitcher Lexie Pinkelman (Metamora/Evergreen) and junior southpaw Ali Sayre (Sylvania/Northview) each hurled complete games Tuesday en route to a sweep of Baldwin-Wallace College.
The ‘Berg offense boasts three hitters pacing above the .350 clip. Artino (.424, 37 RBI, 5 HR, 24 R) ranks inside the OAC’s top-10 in hits (42), batting average, home runs, runs scored, slugging percentage (.677) and leads the circuit in runs batted-in. Artino also leads the team with 11 multi-RBI games and is riding a 12-game hitting streak. Sophomore center fielder Jami Wagner (Alvada/New Riegel) (.402, 8, 0, 32) is seventh in the OAC in hitting, tied for third in runs scored, tied for fifth in hits (41) and is 10th in on-base percentage (.445), and leads the team with 16 stolen bases in 20 attempts. Sophomore left fielder Julie Okorn (Euclid) (.354, 12, 0, 19) is hitting at a productive rate and Pinkelman (.291, 29, 7, 20), in addition to her mound duties, is third in the league in home runs, tied for fourth in RBI and is seventh in slugging (.658).
In the circle, Sayre and Pinkelman have combined to start 21 of 28 games. Sayre (3.39 ERA, 51 K, 79.2 IP) is 5-7 in 14 appearances (11 starts) and is ninth in the league in innings pitched and strikeouts, respectively. Pinkelman (4.95, 50, 63.2) is 5-4 in 12 appearances (10 starts). Both are tied for eighth in the conference with seven complete games and have each hurled a shutout. Freshman righty Christine Foster (Luckey/Eastwood) (4.15, 10, 30.1) is 3-1 in seven appearances (four starts) and has pitched two complete games.
Mount Union (16-18, 6-8 OAC) has won four of its last five games following a sweep Tuesday over Capital University. Bre Willis and Rachel McAninch each turned in complete games in the circle and combined for 11 strikeouts.
Kristen Gromes, Leigh Siedlak and Marissa Earl lead the Purple Raiders offensively. Gromes (.361, 11, 3, 31) is third in the OAC in walks (18), tied for fifth in in runs scored, is seventh in OBP (.483) and 10th in slugging (.639). Siedlak (.347, 20, 5, 15) is tied for fifth in the league in home runs. Earl (.308, 28, 5, 24) is fourth in the conference in walks (17), sixth in RBI and tied with Siedlak and Artino for sixth in homers.
Bre Willis and Rachel McAninch key the Mount Union pitching staff with a combined 32 starts in 34 games. Willis (2.49, 68, 92.2) is 8-8 and is tied for third in the OAC in wins, is fifth in strikeouts, sixth in innings pitched and eighth in ERA. McAninch (3.83, 82, 115.0) is 6-10 and is third in the league in innings pitched, fourth in strikeouts and tied for 10th in wins.
Heidelberg will have a short turnaround before hosting Alma on Monday at 3:30 p.m. The Berg will host its final OAC twinbill of the season Wednesday against Otterbein University.