Bats Come Alive in Closing Innings to Secure 'Berg Victory

The Heidelberg College baseball team faced a 5-4 deficit heading into the bottom half of the seventh-inning, but its bats came alive and rattled off 10 hits in its next two at bats to help seal a 16-5 victory over Albion College in day three of action at the Port Charlotte Invitational in Port Charlotte, Fla. The win improves Heidelberg to 3-1 on the year.
 
With Heidelberg trailing 5-4, and with one out, Matt Hille (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homstead) stepped to the plate in the seventh inning and singled up the middle to get things started for the Berg. Tony Pawlowicz (Montpelier, Ohio / Montpelier) followed Hille’s lead and singled to center field, while Jack Bault (Randolph, Ohio / Waterloo) loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Gross Pointe North) doubled down the left field line to plate two runs, including the game tying and eventual game-winning run.
 
Heidelberg and Albion battled back and forth through the first six innings. The Berg opened the contest with a 1-0 lead after the first inning, but Albion went on to score four runs over the next three innings to hold a 4-1 advantage heading into the fifth. Heidelberg responded to Albion’s runs with three of its own to knot the score at 4-4 heading into the seventh inning. Albion scored in the top half of the seventh and then Heidelberg stepped up to the plate and began its comeback.
 
Earning the win on the mound was Steve Calevro (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg), pitching 4.0 innings in relief. Calevro allowed just three hits, while striking out two batters. Earning his first start of his collegiate career was freshman Branden Stucky (Medina, Ohio / Medina). Stucky went 5.0 innings, giving up just seven hits. He struck out four batters, while allowing four runs, just three earned.
 
Offensively, Grassley led three with multiple hits in the win. Grassley finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, four RBI and three runs scored, while Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored and Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) was 2-for-5 with three runs scored, a double and an RBI.
 
Heidelberg continues its action in the Port Charlotte Invitational against Olivet tomorrow beginning at 2:00 p.m.