GRINNELL, Iowa-- The Wartburg College softball team (6-16 overall) split its double-header with non-conference opponent, Grinnell College (1-7) Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers took the first game, 8-5, but the Knights won the second game, 9-1.

In the first meeting, the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the second inning when Grinnell took the 4-0 lead.

The Orange and Black got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning when senior Lauren Popov (Collinsville, Ill.) drove in junior Ashley Bienemann (Alburnett) on her RBI single.

The Pioneers tallied four more runs in the sixth to take the 8-1 lead, but a three-run shot by Bienemann brought Wartburg within three with two outs in the top of the seventh.

The next batter, senior Emily Braem (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), reached on an error but the next batter grounded out to end the game.

Bienemann and senior Lynn Heitkamp (Galena, Ill.) led the team at the plate as each went 2-3.

In the second game, the Knights jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first as Braem slugged a three-run double.

The Orange and Black  tacked on two runs in the third and one in the fourth and fifth to take the 7-0 lead.

Grinnel scored their lone run in the fifth and Wartburg added two in the seventh to take the win.

Heitkamp finished a perfect 4-4 at the dish and freshman Tori Herzberg (San Tan Valley, Ariz.) picked up her first win in the circle as she pitched all 7.0 innings.

The Knights return to the field next Saturday against Coe College in Cedar Rapids. The first game of the twinbill is scheduled for 2 p.m.