John Carroll Takes Two from the Berg

John Carroll University swept the Heidelberg College softball team in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader in University Heights, Ohio 5-1, 6-1. The Berg drops to 4-22 on the year, 2-10 in conference competition. JCU rises to 12-14 overall, 6-4 in the OAC.

The first game began with Heidelberg once again scoring the first run of the game. Jerrica Sweetnich (Garfield Heigths, Ohio / Garfield Heights) double to place herself in scoring position and was hit in by Ashley Foust (Aurora, Ohio / Aurora) who followed her to the plate and knocked a single. John Carroll came back to score two runs in the second, two more in the fourth, and sealed the game with one run in the bottom of the sixth, all the while Heidelberg just could not muster any more runs across the plate.

Foust led the team offensively for the game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Sweetnich and Katie Allenspach (Aurora, Ohio / Aurora) earned the only other two hits of the game for the Berg. Nicole Bachman (Elkhart, Ind. / Elkhart Memorial) received the loss as well on the mound, but only allowed three hits and struck out five. Allenspach came in as relief in the fifth inning and allowed only two hits and struck out four.

Sweetnich came in from centerfield and started the second game on the rubber for Heidelberg. It was the first collegiate start on the mound for the sophomore. John Carroll scored 2 earned runs in the first and one more in the second to take an early 3-0 lead. Heidelberg finally answered back in the fourth when Foust homered over the wall, but the Berg was unable to produce anymore runs for the rest of the game. JCU added to its lead with another two-run inning in the fifth, followed by another run in the sixth.

Once again leading the way on offense was Foust. She went 1-for-2 at the plate with a run and an RBI thanks to her shot over the fence. Dessiree Burtch (Prospect, Ohio / Elgin) hit the Berg’s third extra base hit of the day with a double in the fourth. She ended up going 1-for-3 at the plate. Sweetnich picked up the loss, having allowed five hits, one walk, and striking out two in four innings of work. Allenspach came in as relief once more in the fifth. She gave up four hits.

Defensively, first baseman Andrea Gerdeman (Ottawa, Ohio / Ottawa-Glandorf) posted a team-high 15 put outs for the day, while shortstop Coree Price (Prospect, Ohio / North Union) dished out seven assists.

Heidelberg takes to the field next against Bluffton University on the Beavers home field. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3 p.m.