'Berg Extends Winning Streak to Eight

The nationally ranked Heidelberg University baseball team extended its winning streak to eight games following a doubleheader sweep of Otterbein College at Peaceful Valley. Heidelberg topped the visitors 3-2 in game one and returned to battle for a 15-8 victory in game two. The win improves Heidelberg to 19-5 overall and 4-2 in the OAC, while the Cardinals fall to 9-7 overall and 2-2 against league foes.
 
In game one, Otterbein held a 2-0 lead after three at bats. Heidelberg took charge its third time around and would score all three of its runs with two outs. Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland) knocked in Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) on a single to second base to get the Berg on the scoreboard. Wentworth had reached the base baths on a walk. Biagio Boytim (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) followed the lead of Wentworth and worked Otterbein’s pitcher for a base on balls to set the stage for an eventual game-winning two-run double to right center by freshman designated hitter Ricky Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start).
 
Heidelberg’s ace David Paddock (Westerville, Ohio / North) settled down over the next three innings and did not allow a hit, while closer Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) threw the final inning to preserve the victory. In six innings of work, Paddock gave up just three hits, while striking out nine and walking just one. The win improved Paddock to 5-1. Lowe faced just three batters and had one strike out to post his fourth save on the year.
 
The Berg finished game one with six hits led by a 2-for-3 showing by Lizcano.
 
Game two featured a tale of two sides. Otterbein opened up with six runs in the first inning off of five hits and two errors, while the Berg managed just three runs. In the second inning the roles were reversed as Otterbein was held to just a run off of two hits in the top half and the Berg took charge with nine runs off of six hits and one error in the bottom half of the inning. Following two innings of action Heidelberg held a 12-7 lead.
 
Both sides settled down and Heidelberg closed out the game on top 3-1 over the final seven innings to post the eventual 15-8 victory.
 
Heidelberg and Otterbein combined for 29 hits, with the Berg holding the advantage, 15-14. Wentworth and Boytim each finished 3-for-5. Boytim knocked in four runs, while scoring three and Wentworth scored twice. Finishing with two hits apiece was Keen and L.B. Emrhein (Seven Hills, Ohio / Padua Franciscan). Emrhein closed out Heidelberg’s scoring in the second inning with a three-run home run. Also hitting a home run in the game was Boytim.
 
Earning the win on the mound was Elvin Williams (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid). Williams pitched four innings of relief to improve to 3-0. Williams gave up seven hits, while striking out four.
 
Heidelberg continues its OAC schedule Wednesday with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader with Capital University.