John Carroll Sweeps Heidelberg In OAC Action

The Heidelberg College softball team held early leads in both contests in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader with visiting John Carroll University, but could not hold on, dropping game one 8-4 in 10 innings and game two 9-7. The setbacks drop Heidelberg to 5-23 overall and 2-10 in the OAC, while the Blue Streaks improve to 13-14 overall and 4-4 in league play.

John Carroll opened up game one scoring three runs in its first at bat, courtesy of a two-run double and a Heidelberg error. Heidelberg responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take control of the scoreboard, 4-3. Coree Price (Prospect, Ohio / North Union) reached the base paths on a single and eventually scored Heidelberg’s first run of the game on a wild pitch. Jennifer Kerman (Willowick, Ohio / Regina) drew a bases loaded walk to move Ashley Foust (Aurora, Ohio / Aurora) across home to pull the Berg within one, 3-2. Heidelberg took the lead on an error by the Blue Streaks shortstop.

The game remained scoreless for the next five innings. JCU tied the game in the seventh inning when its leadoff batter, Laura Boselovic, reached the bases on a dropped third strike. Boselovic’s pinch runner, Tricia Kuenzig, rounded the bases and scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

John Carroll took advantage of two Heidelberg errors and tallied two hits in the 10th inning to win the game 8-4.

Leading the Heidelerg offense in game one was Andrea Gerdeman (Ottawa, Ohio / Ottawa-Glandorf). Gerdeman went 3-for-6, while Rachael Everhart (Huntsville, Ohio / Indian Lake) also finished with multiple hits with two.

Katherine Allenspach (Aurora, Ohio / Aurora) suffered the loss on the mound, pitching a complete game, striking out five and giving up eight hits.

In the night cap, Heidelberg scored three runs in the second inning to hold an early 3-0 advantage. Highlighting the inning was strong play from the freshman class. Freshman catcher Katie Curry (Delaware, Ohio / Buckeye Valley) knocked in Heidelberg’s first run on an RBI double and freshman outfielder Barbara Kendeigh (Oberlin, Ohio / Firelands) and Gerdeman followed Curry with back-to-back RBI singles.

John Carroll responded in the third inning with seven runs off of five hits and two ’Berg errors to take control of the game at 7-3. The Blue Streaks added a run in the fourth, but Heidelberg did not quit, scoring four runs of its own. The freshman trio of Curry, Kendeigh and Gerdeman all opened the inning reaching the base paths and crossed home plate along with Price to pull the Berg within one, 8-7, but that would be as close as Heidelberg would get.

Crystal Killoran (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) finished the game with three hits followed by two hits apiece from Gerdeman, Burtch and Kendeigh.

Stacy Hempy (North Lewisburg, Ohio / Triad) took the loss on the mound. Hempy went a complete game and recorded five strike outs.