LaGrange, Ga. – March 11, 2010 – Sophomore outfielder Elvin Williams (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid) had four hits, five runs batted in and three runs scored, while junior right handed starter Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) struck out a career-best eight batters to lead the Heidelberg University baseball team to a 14-5 victory over host LaGrange College at Cleaveland Field in LaGrange, Ga.
The win extended Heidelberg’s opening win streak to six games, while the Panthers fall to 7-8. Heading into the contest the Berg was ranked fifth in the nation according to D3baseball.com.
In the fifth inning, with the score tied at four runs apiece, Williams singled through the left side before moving to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland) followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to knock in Williams to put the Berg on top 5-4.
Heidelberg went on to extend its lead to four runs, 8-4, with a three hit, three run sixth inning. With runners on second and third, Williams smacked a double to the right center field fence to clear the bases and plate the eventual game-winning run. Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start) followed with an RBI single over the pitchers head to plate Williams. Williams advanced to third base on a wild pitch prior to scoring.
The Berg added to its lead with an RBI single from Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) in the seventh inning as well as two runs in the eighth off the bats of Lizcano and Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic).
After four scoreless innings, LaGrange’s Derek Hooper had an RBI single to right field in the eighth to pull within six runs, 11-5.
Relentlessness played a role in Heidelberg’s last at bat. The Berg battled at the plate to record three more runs off of three hits. Highlighting the inning was a two-run RBI double by Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston).
The win on the mound for Koehl was his second on the year in two starts. He threw 7.0 innings and allowed six hits and four earned runs, while walking five.
The Heidelberg hitters overcame a slow start that saw them combine for four hits through four innings of play, including a hitless third and fourth inning. The bats came alive in the fifth as the Berg registered three hits to begin a streak of five straight innings with three hits and at least one run scored. In the end the Berg pounded out 19 hits.
Backing Williams’ four hits was Lizcano and Monroe with three apiece. Lizcano knocked in three runs, while Monroe had two RBI. Monroe also scored three times. Finishing with two hits apiece was Brechun, Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) and Decker.