Springfield, Ohio – March 22, 2011 – The nationally ranked Heidelberg University baseball team dropped a 3-1 decision to host Wittenberg University at C. Davidson Stadium in Springfield, Ohio. Heidelberg, ranked second in the D3Baseball.com national poll released earlier today, stands at 11-2 following the setback, while Wittenberg improves to 9-7.
Heidelberg’s offense recorded just five hits on the day and took advantage of a Tiger miscue to score its lone run of the game. In the fourth, Heidelberg loaded the bases on a fielding error by third base. The error set the stage for an Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Mich. / Marysville) ground out to first base. Buelow knocked in Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) who reached the base paths on a walk.
The Tigers answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs that were set up courtesy of a Heidelberg error. Matt Hampp led the inning off with a single up the middle. He went on to tie the game with an overthrow to first base by Heidelberg on a sacrifice bunt by Jason Haunty. The error put Haunty on third and he scored the eventual game-winning run on a Mike Yednock RBI single.
Wittenberg added an insurance run in the eighth off the bat of Yednock.
Picking up a hit apiece to bring Heidelberg’s total to five was Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start), Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic), Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston), Lash and Buelow.
Senior right-hander Nathan James (Rockport, Ind. / South Spencer) suffered the loss on the mound to stand at 1-1 on the year. In 6.0 innings of work he gave up six hits, two runs, none earned, and struck out one.
Heidelberg will look to return to the win column tomorrow, March 23, when it travels to Delaware, Ohio for a 4:00 p.m. contest with Ohio Wesleyan University.