New Concord, Ohio – April 3, 2011 – The Heidelberg University baseball team swept a doubleheader over host Muskingum University this afternoon in the Ohio Athletic Conference opener for both institutions. Heidelberg opened with a 10-3 win in game one and hooked the sweep of the Muskies with a 10-3 win in game two.
The sweep improved the Berg to 16-4 on the year and 2-0 in the OAC, while the Muskies fall to 6-11, 0-2. Heidelberg entered the contest ranked third in the nation according to D3Baseball.com and are the four-time defending OAC Champions. Overall the program has won five regular season titles (2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).
In game one Heidelberg scored all 10 of its runs with two outs on the board. The Berg built an 8-0 lead after four innings before being held scoreless in the fifth and sixth. Muskingum erased a shutout with two runs in the sixth. Heidelberg got its two runs back in its final at bat off a two-run home run by Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic). The Muskies finished out the scoring in the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Keeping the Muskie bats at bay was sophomore right-handed starter Ethan Holt (Galion, Ohio / West Holmes). Holt allowed just four hits over 6.1 innings of work to improve to 4-0 on the year. He struck out five and gave up two earned runs.
Brechun not only knocked in the final ’Berg runs, but he accounted for three of the first for runs of the game. Adding two RBI was Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston), while Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Mich. / Marysville) belted a two-run shot to bring in multiple runs as well.
Aside from his five RBI, Brechun finished with three of Heidelberg’s 14 hits. Recording two apiece was Monroe, Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville), Derek Andrzejczak (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) and Buelow. Buelow led the way with three runs scores, while Monroe scored twice.
In the nightcap, senior right-hander Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) threw a complete game to help lead the Berg to the sweep. After giving up three runs in the first, Koehl settled in and did not give up another run, while striking out a career-high 11 batters. For the game, Koehl gave up seven hits, while walking one.
Heidelberg scored 10 runs in just three innings. Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start) led the game off with a home run to right field. Four batters later Lash had a RBI single to left field and Buelow closed out the scoring with a RBI ground out to first base. Its early advantage was short lived as the Muskies responded in its first at bat with three runs of its own, off of three hits.
Lizcano returned in the second and sent another one over the fence for what would prove to be the eventual game-winning run. He started a four-run inning for the Berg. Heidelberg scored its second run of the inning off a Muskie miscue and the final two came across off the bat of Buelow.
Heidelberg added two more runs in the sixth and closed out its scoring with a run in the eighth.
For the game, Heidelberg pounded 16 hits. Aside from Lizcano’s two home runs, Lash had two extra base hits and Monroe had one. Lash finished 4-for-5 followed by Brechun and Buelow at 3-for-5. Buelow had three RBI, while Lizcano and Lash had two apiece. Monroe led the team with three runs scored