Berg drops two in conference opener

In the 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference softball opening weekend, Muskingum College swept Heidelberg University 4-1, 8-1.  Heidelberg falls to 2-14 overall, 0-2 in the OAC, while Muskingum stands at 12-6 for the year and 2-0 in the OAC.
 
In game one, Muskingum grabbed two runs back to back in the first inning, but Katie Allenspach (Aurora, Ohio / Aurora) was able to keep the Muskies at bay until they hit in two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings.  In the bottom of the sixth, Andrea Gerdeman (Ottawa, Ohio/ Ottawa-Glandorf) had a single up the middle to advance Bobbi Kendeigh (Oberlin, Ohio/ Firelands) into scoring position.  Crystal Killoran (South Euclid, Ohio/ Brush) hit a RBI single to leftfield, bringing Kendeigh to home for Heidelberg’s only run.
 
Allenspach allowed 12 hits and four earned runs in seven innings on the mound for the day.
 
In the second game of the day, Muskingum took advantage of two Heidelberg miscues to plate three runs in the first inning. The Muskies extended their lead to eight before the Berg reached the scoreboard in the sixth inning.  Gerdeman hit a hard ball up the middle to bring Megan Reinhart (Tiffin, Ohio/ Hopewell-Loudon) home for the lone Berg run in the game.
 
Briana Hinz (Madison, Ohio/ Madison) took the loss on the mound in her first collegiate conference game.  She gave up 12 hits and four earned runs in four innings.  Sharing the mound was Jessica Thoms (Amherst, Ohio/ Firelands), with four hits and one earned run in three innings.
 
All and all, leftfielder, Katharine Whittaker (Burford, Ga. / Buford) led the Berg in hits, going 2-for- 5 with two doubles while Gerdeman went 2-for- 4 for the day.
 
Heidelberg suits up next to play Baldwin-Wallace College, Wednesday April 1 at 3:30 p.m. in Berea, Ohio.