Tiffin, Ohio – April 20, 2010 – The Heidelberg University softball team continues to make impressive strides under the guidance of second-year head coach Betsy Hada. Today it split a doubleheader against Ohio Athletic Conference foe Baldwin-Wallace College at Mayer Field. The Berg dropped a 1-0 decision in game one and bounced back to win 6-4 in game two.
The win over the Yellow Jackets was Heidelberg's first since 2000 and it increases Heidelberg’s 2010 victory total to 20. It is just the sixth time that Heidelberg has eclipsed the 20-win plateau since beginning a fastpitch program in 1983. The Berg previously recorded 20 wins in 1988, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Heidelberg now boasts a 20-10 overall record, 6-6 in the OAC, while Baldwin-Wallace stands at 19-14, 5-7 against league foes.
In game one, after four scoreless innings on both sides, the Yellow Jackets tallied the eventual game-winning run off a sacrifice fly to center field in the fifth inning.
Dana Thoms (Amherst, Ohio / Firelands) pitched a complete game and only gave up six hits and one earned run. She retired two, while walking one.
Offensively, Bridget Moran (Lakewood, Ohio / Lakewood) led the way with a 2-for-3 outing. Also earning a hit was Bessie Artino (Bellevue, Ohio / Bellevue) and Megan Reinhart (Tiffin, Ohio / Hopewell-Loudon).
Down 2-1 in the bottom of the third in game two, Heidelberg would score three runs to take its first lead of the day. Registering RBI singles was Ashley Stromack (LaGrange, Ohio / Keystone), Hannah Brumit (Stone Creek, Ohio / New Philadelphia) and Artino.
Heidelberg extended its lead to 6-2 in the fourth inning when Andrea Gerdeman (Ottawa, Ohio / Ottawa-Glandorf) blasted a two-run homer over right center field bringing Heidelberg's lead to 6-2. It marked Gerdeman’s team-leading fifth home run of the season. Scoring on the home run was Carrie Moran (Lakewood, Ohio / Lakewood), who reached the base paths with a double down the right field line.
The Yellow Jackets would add runs off a two-run homer in the fifth, but it wouldn’t’ be enough.
Heidelberg out-hit Baldwin-Wallace 10-7. Gerdeman led with a 2-for-4 outing, including three RBI and one run scored. Reinhart followed with going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Knocking in a run apiece was Brumit and Artino.
Thoms returned to the mound in game two and had a stellar performance to earn her 11th win on the year. She gave up four runs, two earned, and retired three while walking one.