Tiffin, Ohio - April 15, 2010 - The Heidelberg University softball team bounced back from an 8-2 setback in game one to post an 8-4 victory in the nightcap to earn a split against the College of Wooster in a non-conference match up at Mayer Field, on the campus of Heidelberg.
Following the split the Berg is 18-8 on the year, while the Scots stand at 17-11. Today's doubleheader marked the third game on the year between the Berg and Wooster. Heidelberg holds the series advantage, 2-1, in 2010, which includes a 6-4 win at the Gene Cusic Classic in March.
In game one, after a scoreless first on both sides, Wooster went up 7-0 over the next three innings. Heidelberg's defense settled in and went on to hold the Scots scoreless through innings four and five, while plating two runs of its own.
In the fourth inning, Heidelberg's Carrie Moran (Lakewood, Ohio / Lakewood) started things off with a single. Three batters later Hannah Brumit (Stone Creek, Ohio / New Philadelphia) connected for an RBI single to plate Moran.
Heidelberg added its second run in the fifth off a lead off first pitch home run to right center by Kaitlyn Esordi (Brownstown, Mich. / Oscar A. Carlson).
Wooster added another insurance run in the top of the sixth, while keeping the Berg at bay, for an eventual 8-2 victory.
For the game, Heidelberg finished with six hits, with three coming off a perfect 3-for-3 game by designated player Ashley Stromack (LaGrange, Ohio / Keystone). Registering a hit apiece was Moran, Brumit and Esordi.
On the mound for the Berg was Dana Thoms (Amherst, Ohio / Firelands). Thoms allowed eight hits, seven runs, three earned, while suffering the loss. She struck out one, while walking two, to stand at 9-6 on the year.
In the night cap, Wooster went to work early once again, but the Berg did not back down. With the Scots up 3-0 Heidelberg brought on a new game in the bottom of the second. Brumit led the inning off with a hard hit back to the pitcher. Following Brumit was back-to-back RBI doubles by Bessie Artino (Bellevue, Ohio / Bellevue) and Megan Reinhart (Tiffin, Ohio / Hopewell-Loudon). Artino and Reinhart were both down in the count and settled in for doubles to the left field corner. Reinhart would eventually round the bases to score on a wild pitch to tie the ballgame.
Heidelberg senior leader Andrea Gerdeman (Ottawa, Ohio / Ottawa-Glandorf) took charge in the fifth with a runner at third. She worked the count to find her pitch that she sent over the left center fence to put the Berg on top 5-3. With the bases loaded Reinhart followed Gerdeman's scoring mindset and sent in two runs off a single to right field. Scoring on the play was Stromack and Brumit. The scoring spurt continued two batters later with a single to short center by pinch hitter Natalie Hunt (Maineville, Ohio / Maineville). Hunt knocked in Artino. At the end of the fifth, Heidelberg finished with five runs off of seven hits, which equated for an 8-3 lead.
Wooster cut its deficit in half in the sixth, scoring an unearned run off a slow roller down the first base line that was misplayed by the Berg, but that would be as close as the Scots would get.
Freshman hurler Ali Sayre (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania-Northview) improved to 6-1 on the year with a complete-game five-hitter. Along the way she struck out one and walked one. She gave up four runs, three earned.
At the plate, Heidelberg's hitters finished with some quality at bats. For the game the Berg had 15 hits, which is the second most in a single game this season. Brumit and Artino each had three hits apiece and scored two runs each. Reinhart had a team-leading three RBI, to go along with two hits and a run scored. Also registering multiple hits was Gerdeman and Stromack.