Granville, Ohio – March 23, 2010 – The Heidelberg University baseball team connected for 13 hits over the first five innings to take a 12-2 lead and never looked back en route to a 14-7 victory over Denison University at Big Red Field in Granville, Ohio. The win is the sixth in a row for the Berg who improves to 13-1 overall. Following the setback Denison stands at 8-6.
Ranked second in the nation according to D3baseball.com, Heidelberg is under the guidance of 11th-year head coach Matt Palm. In 2010 Heidelberg has had solid representation on the diamond by both its baseball and softball teams, as both sides are off to one of its best starts in the history of its program.
Heidelberg opened up with two runs in its first at bat, before being held scoreless in the second. In the third the Berg answered with four runs off of five hits including a two-run home run to left center field by Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) to pull ahead 6-2. Four more runs were plated in its next at bat led by a bases clearing double to left field by Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield).
Its lead was extended to 12 in the fifth following a two-run home run to center field by Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic).
Denison erased a shutout with two runs each in the fifth and seventh innings.
Decker and Monroe knocked in another run apiece in the eighth inning to push Heidelberg’s final run total to 14.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Big Red added three runs off of four hits to finish the day with seven runs.
Improving to 2-0 on the mound with the win was senior Everett Thomas (Nashua, N.H. / Harrison (Ind.)). The right-hander got the start and threw a four-hitter in 5.0 innings of work. He struck out three, while giving up two earned runs and six base on balls.
After connecting for 13 hits in the first five innings Heidelberg’s bats quieted down over the final four innings to finish with 16. Decker went 4-for-6 with five runs batted in, a double and a run scored. Brechun knocked in three runs after going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a home run. Also finishing with three RBI was Monroe. He added two hits, including a home run and scored once. Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland) made it four players with multiple hits after tallying two. Keen shared team honors with Brechun with three runs scored.
Heidelberg returns to action tomorrow when it entertains Case Western Reserve University at Peaceful Valley. Its home contest with Case Western Reserve marks the first of seven-consecutive home dates for the Berg.