'Berg Baseball Takes A Game From Toledo
The Heidelberg College baseball team split a doubleheader with Division I Mid-American Conference member the University of Toledo today at Scott Park in Toledo, Ohio. Heidelberg and Toledo initially started the contest yesterday and played through 3.2 innings before inclement weather hit the Toledo area. The game resumed today and was followed by a second nine-inning contest. Heidelberg rallied to win 2-1 in the first game, but suffered a 5-3 setback in game two.
Heidelberg’s trio of hurlers, freshmen Andrew Hamman (Peru, Ind. / Peru) and Justin Ocheltree (Bellville, Ohio / Clearfork) and senior Dan Machovina (Elyria, Ohio / Midview), combined to hold Toledo to just three hits in game one.
The lone offense that the Rockets had in the contest was an RBI single from Scott Boley in the first inning.
Two innings later, Heidelberg tied the game 1-1 on an RBI single from Matt Hille (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead). Hille drove in Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) who reached the bases on a Rocket fielding error.
The game remained deadlocked, until Heidelberg plated the game winner in the top of the eighth. Tony Pawlowicz (Montpelier, Ohio / Montpelier) led off with a double and came around to score the game-winning run on a single by Jack Bault (Randolph, Ohio / Waterloo), who finished with a game-high three hits.
Ocheltree threw 2.0 scoreless innings and picked up the victory on the mound. Machovina finished off the Rockets in the ninth to register his fifth save of the season. Earning the start on the mound and pitching the first 6.0 innings was Hamman. Hamman gave up just two hits, while striking out seven.
In the night cap, Heidelberg found itself in an early 2-0 deficit after two innings. The Berg responded with three runs over its next two at bats to hold a 3-2 advantage, but that lead would subside in the bottom of the fourth when Toledo scored its eventual game-winning run.
Leading the way at the plate in game two was Wentworth with four of Heidelberg’s eight hits in the contest.
Following the split, Heidelberg boasts an overall record of 25-13, while Toledo stands at 19-21. The Berg will resume Ohio Athletic Conference play Saturday, May 5 with Muskingum College at Peaceful Valley beginning at 1:00 p.m.. Saturday’s doubleheader marks the regular season finale for Heidelberg as well as the final regular season home contests for seniors Alex Rutter (Bowling Green, Ohio / Bowling Green), Tyler Tocco (Dublin, Ohio / Coffman), Matt Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) and Machovina. The 2007 seniors will be recognized prior to the first pitch.