Westerville, Ohio – April 23, 2011 – The no. 7 ranked Heidelberg University baseball team utilized a four-run sixth inning to break open a tie ballgame with host Otterbein University in game one of an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Berg went on to post an 8-4 win at Fishbaugh Field in Westerville, Ohio. After nearly a two hour rain delay, Otterbein and Heidelberg battled in game two of the league doubleheader with the host Cardinals coming out on top, 4-3. The split leaves Heidelberg at 27-7 overall and 11-3 in the OAC, while Otterbein is 15-16, 7-7.
In the opener, Otterbein strung together four hits in the third inning to get on the scoreboard first with two runs.
Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start) cut Heidelberg’s deficit in half with a lead off home run to left field in the fifth inning. Four batters later, Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) knocked in Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) on a sacrifice fly to center field to start a new ballgame.
Heidelberg opened up the game with four runs, off of four hits and three Cardinal errors in the sixth inning. Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Mich. / Marysville) started the scoring off with a home run to right field. Jordan Martin (Powell, Ohio / Olentangy Liberty) followed with a single only to be knocked in by a Lizcano double. Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic) closed out the scoring with a two-RBI single to right center to score Monroe, who reached on an error, and Lizcano.
The Cardinals responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the sixth, but Lizcano got the two runs back with his second home run of the contest, a two-run shot to left field to move the final score to 8-4.
Heidelberg finished with 10 hits in the seven inning affair. Leading the way was Lizcano with a 3-for-4 outing. All three of his hits were for extra bases. Lizcano also knocked in four runs, while scoring three of his own and drew one walk. Finishing with two hits apiece was Brechun, Buelow and Martin. Martin and Monroe each scored twice.
Ethan Holt (Galion, Ohio / West Holmes) and Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) combined forces on the mound to lead to the win. Holt got the start and threw an eight-hitter through 6.0 innings to improve to 6-1 on the year. He struck out three, while allowing four runs. Lowe entered in the sixth inning with the tying run on deck. In two innings of work he did not allow a run and gave up just two hits. Lowe preserved his 12th victory on the year, which ties his own Heidelberg single season record he set a season ago. Earlier this season Lowe moved atop the NCAA Division III record book for career saves.
In the nightcap, after two scoreless innings on both sides, Heidelberg crossed home plate twice in the top of the third. Back-to-back RBI singles by Lizcano and Monroe gave the Berg a 2-0 advantage.
Otterbein evened the score with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the fourth. A Heidelberg miscue plated a run and was followed by a RBI ground out to short stop to tie the game at two runs apiece.
The host Cardinals took its first lead of the game in the seventh with two runs off of two hits. With one out and two on, Greg Moomaw had a RBI single to right field and was followed by a sacrifice fly from Wes Meadows, which plated the eventual game-winning run.
Brechun had a RBI ground out to second base in the eighth to pull the Berg within a run, 4-3, but the Cardinals held on for the win.
Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) suffered the loss on the mound. He got the start and threw a four-hitter over 6.0 innings. He stuck out five and walked five, giving up four runs, with just two earned.
At the plate, Heidelberg had six hits. Lizcano and Monroe had two apiece. Scoring a run was Lizcano, Monroe and Buelow.