Appleton, Wis. – May 29, 2010 – The Heidelberg University baseball team’s 18-game winning streak was snapped in a 4-3 setback to Illinois Wesleyan University at the 2010 Division III Baseball Championships. The game was played at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis. The loss drops Heidelberg to 41-7 overall, while the Titans improve to 29-20.
Despite the setback, the Berg still remains alive in the eight-team double elimination championship. Heidelberg falls to 1-1 in the championship and will face University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in an elimination game on Sunday, May 30. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. central standard time.
Lawrence University and the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau are hosting what has come to be referred to as the Division III World Series May 28-June 1.
Heidelberg was the home team in the contest and starter Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) worked out of an early bases loaded situation. Koehl forced a ground ball for a double play up the middle to end a first inning threat by the Titans.
Koehl went on to settle down, along with continued to rely on the solid ’Berg defense, to face just six batters over the next two innings. Along the way he had three strike outs, including two in the third.
Heidelberg broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom half of the third. Derek Andrzejczak (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) and Elvin Williams (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid) had back-to-back hits to right center and advanced a base on a wild pitch to move into scoring position. Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start) went on to knock in Andrzejczak on a ground out to short stop and Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) followed suit with a RBI single to right center to put the Berg up 2-0.
In the fifth, Illinois Wesleyan loaded the bases, but the Berg defense stepped up to turn a double play up the middle yet again. The double play was assisted by interference from a Titan runner sliding into second. Following the double play, Illinois Wesleyan broke onto the scoreboard on a wild pitch, before knotting the game at two runs apiece with a RBI single by Brett Moore.
Williams made sure to put the Berg back on top quickly. In the bottom of the fifth he knocked in Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Mich. / Marysville) with a double down the left field line. Buelow led the inning off being hit by a pitch.
After a scoreless sixth on both sides, the Titans tied the ballgame in the seventh with a RBI single up the middle by Mike Morrissey. Following the tie, the Berg handed the ball over to closer Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll). Lowe came in and teamed up with his middle infielders to turn a double play to end the inning.
Illinois Wesleyan took its first lead of the ballgame in the eighth off a RBI triple by Jeff Grodecki to right center field. The Titans run in the eighth proved to be the eventual game-winning score.
Lowe suffered the loss on the mound to fall to 5-2 on the year. In 2.2 innings of relief work, Lowe gave up two hits and one earned run, while striking out one. Koehl struck out six over 6.1 innings. He allowed just seven hits and three earned runs.
At the plate, Heidelberg finished with just six hits on the night. Williams went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored, while Andrzejczak was 2-for-4 with a run scored.