Bats Come Alive in Win Over John Jay

The Heidelberg University baseball team topped John Jay College 21-2 today in Port Charlotte, Fla. at the Snowbird Classic. The win is the second straight for the Berg who is ranked eighth in the D3baseball.com preseason national poll. In two outings against John Jay, Heidelberg has combined to plate 43 runs, while giving up just two. Combined, the Berg has recorded 39 hits.
 
Heidelberg recorded 22 hits today, including 14 extra base hits. At the end of the day Heidelberg’s hitters had eight doubles, five triples and a home run. Leading the way was Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) with two doubles, while Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) had a triple and a home run. Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) also assured himself some extra bases out of the batter’s box with a double and a triple, as did Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic).
 
Heidelberg scored at least one run in eight innings and things started with three runs in the first. With two outs, the Berg took advantage of two miscues by John Jay to put runners on the bases for Lash. Lash stepped up to the plate and worked for a full count before belting a three-run home run to left field.             
 
John Jay responded with two runs in the top of the second to cut Heidelberg’s advantage to one at 3-2. In the bottom of the second Heidelberg answered with two outs as Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) singled followed by Jeremy Wentworth (Jamestown, Ohio / St. Charles) and Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Ohio / Marysville), which led to a 5-2 ’Berg 5-2 lead.
 
Heidelberg kept John Jay scoreless for the remainder of the contest, while scoring 16 runs of its own to post the win.
 
An integral part of Heidelberg’s success was the right-arm of sophomore Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview). Koehl pitched eight innings and gave up just five hits, while striking out six and gave up no earned runs. Sophomore Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) finished the game and faced three batters, which resulted in two strike outs and a ground out.
 
At the plate, Monroe went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Lash was 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored. Also picking up multiple hits was Wentworth, Buelow, Grassley, Brechun and Decker.
 
Heidelberg returns to action tomorrow and faces Eastern Mennonite University at 12:30 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.heidelberg.edu/statcrew/mbb/xlive.htm.