ALLIANCE, Ohio -- The Mount Union softball team earned a split in its home and Ohio Athletic Conference opener on Tuesday, taking a 2-1 eight-inning decision before dropping an 8-3 contest against Heidelberg at 23rd Street Field.

Winning pitcher Rachel McAninch (West Jefferson/West Jefferson) worked all eight innings in game one while Jill Rader (Ashland/Ashland) was 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

Kristen Gromes (Navarre/Fairless) worked a one-out walk in the eighth, moved to second base on a groundout and then scored on Rader's game-winning, two-out bloop single into shallow right field.

Rader also plated Gromes in the sixth inning. Gromes reached with a single, advanced to second on a groundout and then crossed the plate after Rader hit a two-out liner into center field.

The Student Prince (13-3, 1-1) tied the game with a run in the seventh. Jami Wagner and Lauren Childs led off with back-to-back singled and moved up one base apiece on a double steal. Wagner then scored on an RBI groundout by Hannah Brumit.

McAninch scattered seven hits while allowing the one run. She struck out six batters and walked none.

Heidelberg's Ashley Stromack was 2-for-4 in support of pitcher Dana Thoms, who had four strikeouts and four walks in 7 2/3 innings.

Kelly Martz and Megan Reinhart added doubles for the visitors.

The Berg broke out the bats in game two, collecting 15 hits including seven for extra bases. It scored in six of the seven innings.

Brumit was 4-for-4 with a triple, two doubles and two RBIs. Martz batted 3-for-4 with two triples and two runs scored.

Also, Wagner went 3-for-4, Reinhart was 2-for-4 with a homer and Erica Huffman doubled.

Down 6-0 in the sixth, the Raiders made a push and mustered three runs.

Brenna Longo (Moon, Pa./Moon), Mara Palombaro (Boardman/Cardinal Mooney) and Gromes opened the frame with consecutive singles; Gromes's hit plated Longo.

Haley Martinelli (Austintown/Austintown Fitch) added an RBI fielder's choice and Sarah Woody (Uniontown/Green) had an RBI groundout, but Mount Union went without a big knock to pull it closer.

Gromes finished with a 2-for-2 game.

Bre Willis (Navarre/Fairless) suffered the loss. She pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on nine hits while recording six strikeouts.

Woody had one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings of relief work.

Lexie Pinkelman went the distance for Heidelberg. She had four strikeouts and two walks.

The Purple Raiders (9-7, 1-1) will return to action on Wednesday at 23rd Street Field when non-conference foe Allegheny (Pa.) visits for a 3:30 p.m. start.

Mount Union 2, Heidelberg 1
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Heidelberg.......... 000 000 10 -  1  7  0      (12-3, 0-1 OAC)
Mount Union......... 000 001 01 -  2  7  2      (9-6, 1-0 OAC)
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Heidelberg - Dana Thoms and Megan Reinhart. Mount Union - Rachel McAninch and
Mara Palombaro. Win-Rachel McAninch(3-3).  Loss-Dana Thoms(5-2).


Heidelberg 8, Mount Union 3
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Heidelberg.......... 111 021 2 -  8 15  2      (13-3, 1-1 OAC)
Mount Union......... 000 003 0 -  3  5  2      (9-7, 1-1 OAC)
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Heidelberg - Lexie Pinkelman and Megan Reinhart. Mount Union - Bre Willis;
Sarah Woody(5) and Mara Palombaro. Win-Lexie Pinkelman(7-1).  Loss-Bre Willis(5-3).