Baseball Falls at Ohio Wesleyan, 7-6

In a battle of NCAA Division III Mideast Region baseball foes, host Ohio Wesleyan University pulled out a 7-6 victory over Heidelberg University, the number three ranked team in the nation according to D3baseball.com. The win evens the Bishops record at 6-6, while the Berg stands at 11-3.
 
After two scoreless innings, Heidelberg took advantage of two Bishop miscues to put two runners on base. Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) stepped up and plated one unearned run with an RBI single, followed by Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland) to give the Berg a 2-0 advantage.
 
OWU responded with five runs off of four hits in the bottom half of the inning to take control of the contest for good.
 
The Bishops kept the Berg at bay for the remainder of the game. OWU added a run each in the fourth and fifth innings and it was just enough to hold off a late rally by the Berg. Heidelberg outscored Ohio Wesleyan 4-0 over the final four innings, but could not pull out a win.
 
Heidelberg finished the game with nine hits, while Ohio Wesleyan registered eight. Leading the way at the plate for the Berg was Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) and Keen. Lash went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk, while Keen was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Derek Andrzejczak (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) homered to center field in the eighth inning for the lone extra base hit by Heidelberg on the day.
 
Suffering the loss on the mound was right-handed sophomore Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania). Koehl started the game and went 5.0 innings. He gave up seven hits and seven runs, while striking out three. Throwing the final 3.0 innings was left-handed newcomer Elvin Williams (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid). Williams allowed just one hit and struck out four.
 
Heidelberg opens Ohio Athletic Conference action this weekend with no. 18 Marietta College at Peaceful Valley. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Saturday’s contest marks a rematch of the 2008 OAC Tournament Championship. Heidelberg topped the Pioneers twice on the championship day to earn a spot in the Mideast Regional.