FT. MYERS, Fla - Senior right-hander Tyler Fruhwirth (Beavercreek) threw his first complete game, but Heidelberg University baseball dropped their first game of the season on Friday. The Student Princes fell to Central College 6-5.
Freshman T.J. Harkness (Fremont/Ross) was 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI while junior Arneal Squibb (Mishawaka, IN) was 4-for-5 with a run scored for Heidelberg.
Central got out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first. The Dutch used four singles and a Heidelberg error to do their damage against Fruhwirth.
In the third, Harkness scored on a sacrifice fly from Joe Chiarappa (Clinton/St. Vincent - St. Mary), which cut the Central lead to 4-1.
The Dutch responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice on three basehits.
Trailing 6-1, Heidelberg (5-1) began to mount their comeback in the sixth. After the Student Princes loaded the bases with no outs, Jordan Martin (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) drew a walk, which made the score 6-2. Heidelberg plated another run on a double play before Harkness singled home the third run of the inning.
The score remained 6-4 in favor of Central (2-0) until the top of the ninth. With one out, Chiarappa, Steve Morse (Scottsdale, AZ/Orchard Lake St. Mary's MI) and Alex Grove (Canal Fulton/Canton Central Catholic) connected on three straight singles, which pushed a run across the plate. With the tying run in scoring position, Central induced a pair of ground ball outs to preserve the victory.
Fruhwirth (0-1) pitched all eight innings in the loss. He allowed 10 hits, all singles, and struck out five.
Heidelberg returns to action on Saturday at noon, taking on Bluffton. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.