Punta Gorda, Fla. –March 6, 2010 – In a battle of nationally ranked foes the Student Prince of Heidelberg Universityprevailed, topping Carthage College, 3-1. Heidelberg is ranked eighth in the nation according to D3baseball.com, while Carthage stands ninth. Both teams are taking part in the 2010 Snowbird Baseball Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla.
The win improves Heidelberg to 3-0 on the year, while Carthage opens up 0-1.
Heidelberg and Carthage combined for just seven hits. Picking up the win on the mound for the Berg was sophomore right-hander Sylvester Nino (Williard, Ohio / Williard). Nino went 7.0 innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five. Closer Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) threw the final two innings and gave up one hit, one unearned run and struck out three to pick up his first save on the year.
Registering hits in the win for Heidelberg was Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield), Elvin Williams (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid) and Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville).
Heidelberg broke a scoreless tie in the bottom half of the sixth. With two outs, Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start) crossed home plate courtesy of a throwing error by Carthage’s shortstop to give the Berg a 1-0 lead. Lizcano reached the base paths by virtue of a Carthage miscue and found himself in scoring position with a stolen base.
In the seventh, Heidelberg extended its advantage to 2-0 when Decker hustled around the base paths to cross home plate on a dropped fly ball that was hit off the bat of Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston).
Carthage cut its deficit in half with a run in the top half of the eighth following a 'Berg error. Lowe had runners on the corners, but struck out two in a row to end the threat.
With two outs in the eighth, and down in the count 1-2, Lash connected for a single to right center field to knock in Lizcano and put Heidelberg’s advantage back to two runs, 3-1. Lizcano started the inning being hit by a pitch before stealing second and taking third on a wild pitch.