'Berg Faces Pitchers Duel with Anderson and Split Doubleheader

In day two of its Spring Break trip to Florida, the Heidelberg College baseball team faced Anderson University from Indiana in a doubleheader featuring two top teams from the Mideast Region. The doubleheader turned out to be a pitcher’s duel that saw Anderson take game one 4-0 and the Berg earned the split with a 4-3 win in its last at bat in game two. The split runs Heidelberg’s record to 2-1.

In game one, Heidelberg had opportunities early, but was unable to capitalize. In the first the bases were loaded and in the second inning, Heidelberg had a runner in scoring position, but left all four runners stranded. Anderson’s pitcher found his position on the mound in the third inning and went on to finish the game with 11 strike outs.

Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) and Derek Andrzejczak (Slyvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) each picked up a hit in the game one loss. Junior left-hander David Paddock (Westerville, Ohio / North) suffered the loss on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings, striking out seven and gave up four runs, but just one earned. For the second-straight outing, Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) came in from the bull pen in relief. Lowe pitched the final 2/3 of an inning and picked up one strike out.

The tables were reversed in game two between Heidelberg and Anderson.  The two teams battled back and forth through the early going. Heidelberg took a 3-2 lead in the fifth, which would stand until the final inning. In the top of the seventh, Anderson had runners on the corners and a slow roller down the line scored the runner from third to knot the game at 3-3. Heidelberg pitcher Andrew McFarland (Mansfield, Ohio / Madison) remained composed and went on to strike out Anderson’s catcher to keep the game at a 3-3 tie.

In the bottom of the seventh, with two outs, Heidelberg’s Biagio Boytim (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) reached base on a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior Tony Pawlowicz (Montpelier, Ohio / Montpelier) stepped to the plate and connected on a hard-hit ball into the wind to deep center field. Anderson’s center fielder misplayed the ball, which resulted in Boytim scoring the game-winning run from second.

McFarland earned the win on the mound and opens the year at 1-0. He pitched a complete game, striking out four, while giving up nine hits and three earned runs. Offensive leaders for Heidelberg were Wentworth and L.B. Emrhein (Seven Hills, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) with two hits apiece. Wentworth scored a run and also knocked in a run. Emrhein scored once for the Berg.