Wooster, Ohio – May 4, 2011 – For the fourth straight year, seventh time overall, the Heidelberg University baseball team has reached the 30-win plateau. In 2011 the feat was accomplished with a doubleheader sweep of Mideast Region foe the College of Wooster. Heidelberg took game one 12-11 in 10 innings followed by an 8-4 win in the nightcap. Overall the Berg stands at 30-8, while the Scots fall to 20-16.
Guiding the Berg to the 30-wins this season, and the previous six occurrences, is veteran head coach Matt Palm. In 12 years at the helm, Palm has produced a record of 375-154-2.
In game one, Wooster settled in with Heidelberg starter Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) in the first inning. The Scots took an early 4-0 lead after its first at bat and increased its advantage to seven after three.
After two scoreless innings on both sides, Heidelberg erased a shutout in the sixth. Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start) scored the first ’Berg run off an error by the Scots first baseman. Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) and Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) followed with a double steal, which sent Lash across home plate.
Wooster increased its lead to six, 8-2, with a run in the seventh, but the Berg came alive in the eighth. In the top half of the eighth Heidelberg plated eight runs off of seven hits and one Wooster miscue. Leading the charge was Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland) with a two-out grand slam to right field that tied up the ballgame. Setting the stage for the game-tying grand slam was Lash and Derek Andrzejczak (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) with RBI singles.
Heidelberg left the bases loaded in the ninth, but Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) kept the Wooster hitters at bay to force extra innings.
With one out, back-to-back doubles to right center field by Lash and Monroe sent one run home. Andrzejczak followed with a single through the right side to plate the eventual game-winning run. Wooster managed a run in the bottom half of the inning off a failed pickoff attempt with one out, but Lowe settled in and struck out two straight to seal the Berg win.
Lowe entered the contest in the eighth and gave up the Heidelberg lead with two runs. In the end Lowe picked up the win to improve to 4-1. In three innings of work he gave up four hits, three runs (two earned) and struck out four. Koehl got a no-decision. He threw an eight-hitter, struck out six and walked five. He allowed eight runs, seven earned.
At the plate, Heidelberg pounded out 17 hits, with 12 coming in the final three innings of play. Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Mich. / Marysville) led the way going 4-for-6 with a run scored. Andrzejczak followed with three hits, two RBI and a run scored. Knocking in a team-leading four runs was Keen, while Lizcano and Lash each scored three runs.
In the nightcap, Wooster got on the scoreboard first with a two-out RBI double to right center field by Jarrod Mancine.
Heidelberg took the lead in the sixth with a two-run inning courtesy of two Wooster errors. With two outs, Buelow reached on an error at second. Arneal Squibb (Mishawaka, Ind. / Mishawaka) followed and reached on an error by first base, which sent Buelow home. Elvin Williams Jr. (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid) sent in the second run of the inning for Heidelberg with a triple to the right field corner.
The Berg extended its lead to four, 5-1, with three runs in the sixth. The Berg hitters once again battled at the plate and loaded the bases on three straight hits to start things off. After a ground out, Lizcano scored on a wild pitch. Andrzejczak connected for a two RBI single up the middle to make it three ’Berg runs in the inning.
The host Scots got one of its runs back in the bottom half of the inning with a RBI double to left field by Billy Farrow.
Heidelberg added three insurance runs in the seventh. Keen and Lizcano put themselves in scoring position for back-to-back sacrifice flies to opposite fields by Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic) and Lash. Monroe was hit by a pitch and found a spot at third on a failed pickoff attempt and a wild pitch. Andrzejczak would make it three runs with a RBI double to the right field corner.
Wooster threatened with a comeback in its final at bat. The Scots loaded the bases and sent two home, but the Berg held on for the win.
Sylvester Nino (Willard, Ohio / Willard) got the start and went 5.0 innings for the win. He allowed six hits and two earned runs, while striking out seven. For the year Nino improves to 4-2.
Heidelberg finished with 10 hits. Leading the way with two apiece was Brechun, Andrzejczak and Squibb. Andrzejczak knocked in a team-best three runs.