BRIEFLY: HEARTLAND HEAT ELIMINATED

MILLVILLE, N.J. -- Defending national champion Millville, N.J., eliminated the Heartland Heat 16-under girls fast-pitch team from the Babe Ruth Softball World Series on Thursday with a 4-1 victory.

The loss came in the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournament. On Wednesday, the Heat fell into the loser's bracket with a tough 9-4, 12-inning loss to Pitt County, N.C.

On Thursday, the Heat bounced back with a 3-2 win over the Ohio Valley Region champion, scoring the winning run in the top of the seventh.

Bridgett Riley notched the win, allowing four hits in six innings. Marissa Essner pitched the final inning for the save.

Ashley Kern had two of the Heat's four hits and scored two runs. Alana Burford finished with two RBIs.

Against Millville, the Heat struck for a run in the top of the first, but were shut out the remainder of the game by Constance DeSalvo. Millville tied the game in the third, moved ahead with two runs in the fourth and added one in the fifth.

Marissa Essner and Bridgett Riley each had a pair of hits to account for all of the Heat's offense.

Essner went the distance and suffered the loss. The Heat finished the tournament with a 4-3 record and was 11-3 overall.