Long Ball Carries Heidelberg
The No. 24 Heidelberg College baseball team utilized the long ball to sweep a doubleheader over visiting Wilmington College and continues to hold a firm grasp on first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference standings. The Berg posted a 9-3 win in game one and returned for a 9-5 victory in game two. In two contests, Heidelberg sent five over the fence at Peaceful Valley to improve to 29-7 overall and 13-3 in the OAC, while Wilmington fell to 9-21 overall and 3-13 in league actions.
In game one Gar Keen (Fredericktown, Ohio / Highland) got things started for Heidelberg with a solo shot to right center field in the first inning. Keen’s home run was the first of his collegiate career. Heidelberg returned in the second with a Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) home run down the left field line and two batters later, with Biagio Boytim (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) on second with a double, Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) knocked one over the left field fence to score the eventual game-winning run.
Heidelberg added another run in the third before being held scoreless in the fourth. Wilmington plated three runs in the top half of the fifth inning to pull within two runs, 5-3, off of Heidelberg starter David Paddock (Westerville, Ohio / North). Steve Calevro (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg) came in relief to force a double play to halt the Quaker scoring rally. In the bottom half of the inning Boytim connected for a two-run home run and Heidelberg added another two runs in the sixth to pull away from Wilmington.
Paddock threw 4.1 innings and gave up six hits en route to improving to 5-2 on the year. Along the way he struck out two batters. Calevro picked up his team-leading sixth save on the year. He pitched the final 2.2 innings and gave up no hits, while striking out two.
At the plate Boytim led the way going 2-for-2 with three RBI, two runs scored, a double and a home run, while Keen finished with two hits, three RBI, a run scored, a double and a home run.
Game two saw Heidelberg jump out to a 3-0 lead after two innings. Two second inning runs were unearned as Willie Brechun (Clinton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic) reached on an error and eventually rounded the bases to score, while Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) singled to reach the base paths and earned two bases on a failed pick off attempt at first. Wentworth went on to work with fellow base runner L.B. Emrhein (Seven Hills, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) with a double steal attempt and stole home plate.
The big news inning for Heidelberg was its six-run fifth. With the game tied 3-3 Heidelberg scored its six runs off of five hits. Highlighting the inning was the first collegiate home run from Brechun. Brechun began his home run career with a three-run shot.
Earning the start on the mound was senior right-hander Andrew McFarland (Mansfield, Ohio / Madison). McFarland picked up the win after throwing 5.1 innings and gave up eight hits. He struck out three batters while improving to 6-1 on the year. Heidelberg showed its depth in the bullpen, bringing in reliever Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) for the final 3.2 innings. Lowe threw a two-hit shutout and stuck out two to pick up his fourth save.
Offensively Heidelberg tallied 12 hits, with three players picking up multiple hits. Leading the way was Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) with three hits, including a double, while Wentworth and Grassley each had two. Brechun knocked in two runs and combined with Emrhein for four runs scored.
Heidelberg is facing its final week of the regular season. The Berg is slated to play two non-conference games beginning at Case Western Reserve University on Tuesday, April 29 and will conclude its regular season with an OAC doubleheader with John Carroll University May 2.