Heidelberg Sweeps Muskingum

It took three days to play, but the wait paid off for the nationally ranked Heidelberg University baseball team. The Berg traveled to New Concord, Ohio today to face the Muskies of Muskingum College in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader that was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 28. The end result was a ’Berg sweep, 8-4 and 7-3. The win improves Heidelberg to 15-5 on the year and 2-2 in the OAC, while Muskingum stands at 10-8, 2-2.
 
In game one, Heidelberg made a statement from the onset, plating four runs in the first inning. Travis McClarney (Mt. Vernon, Ind. / Reitz) and Biagio Boytim (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) had back-to-back RBI singles to score Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) and Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland). Both Wentworth and Keen drew walks to reach the base path. Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) followed McClarney with a double down the left field line to plate Boytim and McClarney for the final runs of the inning for the Berg.
 
Muskingum finally reached the scoreboard in the third inning with a run, but the Berg responded with four more runs in the fourth. Heidelberg scored its four runs off of four hits led by a Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) home run to left field and a Keen two RBI double to center field.
 
The host Muskies threatened late with two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh, but it was not enough to overcome the Berg.
 
Having a solid outing on the mound to pick up the win was starter David Paddock (Westerville, Ohio / North). The senior left-hander went 6.1 innings and gave up just seven hits, while striking out nine. The win increases Paddocks record to 4-1. Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) threw the finals two outs and struck out one and did not give up a hit to earn his third save on the year.
 
In the night cap, Muskingum held a 3-0 lead after five innings of action, but the Berg plated three runs in the sixth and added two apiece in the seventh and eighth innings to post the 7-3 win.
 
Junior right-hander Everett Thomas (Evansville, Ind. / Harrison) earned the start and went 5.0 innings. Thomas gave up just five hits, while striking out seven. He allowed three earned runs. Lowe took over on the mound in the sixth inning and finished the game. Lowe gave up just one hit and struck out three to earn his first win on the mound for the year.
 
Heidelberg worked its way back into the game in the sixth utilizing patience in the batters box. The Berg hitters opened the inning with three-straight base on balls, which set up an eventual two-run single by Boytim. Decker knocked in the third run on a ground out to second base.
 
Helping add the four insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings for the Berg was Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville). Lash wrecked havoc on the left side of the outfield with a double in both innings to plate three of the four ’Berg runs in the two innings.
 
Offensively, Heidelberg combined to register nine hits in each game. Leading the way was Boytim with four hits, including a double, to go along with three RBI and two runs scored. Lash finished with three hits, two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored, while Wentworth, Grassley and Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic) each had two hits apiece. Wentworth drew three walks and led the way with four runs scored. Grassley knocked in two runs, while Brechun scored twice.
 
Heidelberg takes a two-game break from league action beginning with Division II the University of Findlay tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at Peaceful Valley. The Berg then hosts Ohio Wesleyan University on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. before entertaining OAC foe Otterbein College on Saturday. Fans are reminded that they can follow all the action for the week online at www.heidelberg.edu/statcrew/mbb/xlive.htm.