Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Final Season Stats
TIFFIN, Ohio—The Heidelberg University softball team ended its 2012 season tonight by sweeping The College of Wooster in a non-conference doubleheader on Senior Night at Hedges Boyer Park in Tiffin, Ohio. The Berg won game one, 12-1 in five innings, and senior right-handed pitcher Lexie Pinkelman (Metamora/Evergreen) authored an “unofficial” no-hitter in her final collegiate game as the Tri-Color took game two, 1-0, in a rain-shortened five-inning game.
Pinkelman won both games to end the season at 7-7. She issued four walks and retired the other 14 batters she faced, including 10 strikeouts, in game two, and finished the day allowing just one run on three hits while striking out 17 and walking five over 10.0 innings.
Prior to the first game, senior first baseman Bessie Artino (Bellevue), senior catcher Megan Reinhart (Tiffin/Fostoria Hopewell-Loudon) and Pinkelman were each honored before the first game for their contributions to the Heidelberg campus and softball program.
A three-run home run by Artino—her team-high ninth of the season—keyed a six-run rally in the Heidelberg (18-20) second.
Wooster (25-13) plated a run in the top of the fourth on a run batted-in double by Lauren Swinehart, but the Berg tacked on another six runs in the bottom half of the frame and Pinkelman retired the side in the fifth to end the game after five innings.
Six players had multi-hit games for Heidelberg, led by Artino, who went 3-for-4 with a double, homer, four RBI and two runs. Sophomore shortstop Erica Huffman (Strongsville) was 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run, and sophomore right fielder Ashley Kessler (North Olmsted) was 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs. Sophomore left fielder Julie Okorn (Euclid) and sophomore third baseman Kelly Martz (Roseville, Mich./Lakeview) each doubled.
Gina Pirolozzi allowed all 12 ‘Berg runs (11 earned) on 16 hits and struck out three over 4.0 innings and suffered the loss to fall to 11-6.
In game two, Kessler’s RBI single in the second would prove to be the only run Heidelberg needed.
Pinkelman issued lead-off walks in the first and third and allowed two free passes in the fifth, but did not allow a runner past second base on her way to an “unofficial” no-hitter. A game must be a complete game (seven innings or the winning team has an eight-run lead after five innings) to be considered an “official” no-hitter.
Pinkelman got out of the fifth when back-to-back strikeouts when umpires ended the game amidst a torrential downpour.
Allie Webb surrendered five hits over 4.0 innings for Wooster and took the loss.