TIFFIN, Ohio — Marietta College and host Heidelberg University split an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) softball doubleheader Saturday (April 17) afternoon at Mayer Field. The Student Princes (19-9, 5-5 OAC) used a three-run fifth to win game one 3-2, while the Pioneers (16-11, 4-6 OAC) scored crooked numbers in all five innings to win game two 22-5. [Game 1 Box Score] [Game 2 Box Score]

Marietta struck first in the opener when junior third baseman Cassady Busellato (Hilliard, Hilliard Davidson) drove in a run in the top of the second. Heidelberg strung together a two-run double and a run-scoring single with two outs in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. Freshman shortstop Michelle Sayre (Ripley, W.Va., Ripley) opened the sixth with a solo home run, her sixth of the year, but that was as close as Marietta would come as it fell 3-2.

Freshman second baseman Katie Swejk (Tallmadge, Tallmadge) and junior right fielder Ashley Eberhardt (Massillon, Tuslaw) both finished with two of the Pioneers' nine hits. Six different Heidelberg players had one hit in the win.

Freshman Chelsea Chaffin (Wheelersburg, Wheelersburg) took the loss and fell to 8-6. Chaffin allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out four in six innings of work. Dana Thoms earned the win after scattering two runs on nine hits and striking out six in the complete-game victory.

Marietta's bats awoke prior to game two. The Pioneers scored four runs in the top of the first inning. They then added six runs in the second, five more in the third and an addition three in the fourth to extend their lead to 18-0.

Heidelberg scored two in the bottom of the fourth only for Marietta to respond with a four-run fifth. The Student Princes plated three more runs in the bottom of the fifth but the game was then called due to the eight-run rule.

Junior first baseman Maureen Kertes (Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Cape Elizabeth) finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBI. Senior catcher Katie Woolf (Louisville, Louisville) went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, while Eberhardt went 3-for-3 with a trio of runs scored and RBI.

Busellato, who finished 1-for-4, hit a grand slam in the third, while freshman pinch hitter Kirstie Welch (Pickerington, North) belted another grand slam in the fifth.

Junior Amanda Strong (Mineral Wells, W.Va., Parkersburg South) worked the first four innings to pick up her seventh win of the spring. Strong (7-5) scattered two runs (one earned) on four hits, walked three and struck out one.  Thoms (10-7) took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Marietta returns to action Tuesday (April 20) afternoon when the Pioneers play host to rival Muskingum University at 3:30 p.m. Head Coach Donna Newberry enters the doubleheader with 899 career wins after the Muskies (15-15, 5-5 OAC) swept a pair of games from visiting Wilmington College on Saturday.