'Berg Sweeps ONU; Sits Atop OAC Alone

It had to wait a few extra days, but the no. 9 Heidelberg University baseball team swept a doubleheader from host Ohio Northern University in an Ohio Athletic Conference showdown. Heidelberg posted a 3-1 win in the opener and returned with a 15-4 victory in the nightcap. The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but was postponed two days because of inclement weather.
 
The win is the 14th-straight for the Berg, who improves to 25-5 overall and are 10-2 in the OAC, while the Polar Bears fall to 12-15 and 3-7. Heidelberg now holds a game lead over second place Marietta College in the league standings. Prior to the start, Heidelberg and Marietta were tied in first place, but the Pioneers split with Muskingum College to fall a game behind the Berg. 
 
In game one, Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) belted a two-run home run to left field to give Heidelberg an early advantage.
 
Both teams remained scoreless until ONU plated its lone run of the game in the fifth inning. Heidelberg added an insurance run in the sixth to push the final score to 3-1.
 
Helping to insure the victory was a solid defense that was flawless on the field and the right arms of starter Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) and closer Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll). Koehl threw a three-hitter through 4.0 innings and struck out five to improve to 4-2 on the year. Lowe finished the final 3.0 innings of action, giving up four hits and striking out three to earn his sixth save on the year. Only a sophomore, Lowe has already posted 15 career saves, which ties Ben Thorpe’s record set from 2003-05.
 
At the plate, Heidelberg registered seven hits. Lash finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
 
Heidelberg once again took charge from the start in its second outing of the day. Lash, Biagio Boytim (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) and Jack Bault (Randolph, Ohio / Waterloo) each knocked in a run in the first inning to put Heidelberg on top 3-0.
 
ONU plated a run in the bottom half of the third to pull with 3-1. Heidelberg scored four runs over the next two innings to extend its lead to six, 7-1, before a scoreless sixth inning on both sides.
 
Heidelberg closed out the game outscoring ONU 8-3 to lead to the eventual 15-4 victory. A Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland) grand slam highlighted a five-run seventh inning to help seal the win.
 
Nathan James (Rockport, Ind. / South Spencer) got the call on the mound and went 7.0 innings to extend his season record to 4-0. He gave up seven hits and struck out five. Elvin Williams (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid) finished the game. In two innings of work Williams struck out five of the nine batters he faced.
 
Heidelberg finished the game with 15 hits, as nine of its 10 batters that registered an at bat had a hit. L.B. Emrhein (Seven Hills, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) went 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI and a run scored. Lash, Keen, Bault and Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) each had two hits apiece. Keen led the way with five RBI and scored three runs, along with Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Mich. / Marysville).
 
Heidelberg continues its trek through the OAC with Baldwin-Wallace College on Saturday, April 18. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. Following game one, Heidelberg will honor its 2009 seniors, Bault, Boytim, Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles), Emrhein, Bryan Hartman (Circleville, Ohio / Logan Elm), Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) and David Paddock (Westerville, Ohio / North), who will be playing in their final regular season home OAC doubleheader.