Tiffin, Ohio – May 13, 2010 – The nationally ranked Heidelberg University baseball team opened up action in the 2010 Ohio Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament on a high note, topping Muskingum University 29-5. En route of the win, Heidelberg set a new OAC Tournament single-game record for runs scored, as well as hits, after connecting for 32. Heidelberg is the host institution of the four-team double elimination tournament.
The win also extended Heidelberg’s win streak to 12 games and moves its overall mark to 35-6. The Berg entered the contest ranked third in the nation according to D3baseball.com and earned the no. 1 seed in the tournament by virtue of winning its fourth straight, fifth overall, OAC Regular Season Title.
Heidelberg moves on in the championship bracket and will face the winner of no 2 seeded Marietta College and no. 3 seeded John Carroll University on Friday at 9:30 a.m. The setback drops no 2 seeded Muskingum to 22-17 overall.
Heidelberg rattled off 13 unanswered runs over the first five innings before Muskingum found its way on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth with two runs.
The Berg responded in the bottom of the sixth with 15 runs off of 14 hits to push its advantage to 28-2 and never looked back.
In the sixth, Heidelberg batted around before an out was recorded and eventually sent a total of 18 batters to the plate. Leading the charge was the reigning OAC Hitter of the Week Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic). Brechun recorded two two-run home runs in the inning, while Derek Andrzejczak (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania)had one of his own. Elvin Williams (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid) had a bases clearing double to make four at bats with multiple RBI.
Aside from its strong at bats throughout the contest, Heidelberg got a solid start from right-handed freshman Ethan Holt (Galion, Ohio / West Holmes). Holt threw a five-hitter over 6.1 innings, while striking out six to earn the win. For the year Holt improved to 9-1, which leads the pitching staff.
Heidelberg had 14 different players pick up hits in the win, including 11 with multiple hits. Brechun led the way with a 4-for-5 outing with four RBI, three runs scored, two home runs and a double. Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) registered four hits, including three doubles which ties an OAC single-season and tournament record. To go along with his four hits Lash had three runs scored and two RBI.
Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start) and Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Mich. / Marysville) each finished with three hits apiece, while Danny Kilger (Novi, Mich. / Novi), Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland), Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston), Justin Suddeth (Warren, Ohio / Howland), Andrzejczak, Travis McClarney (Mt. Vernon, Ind. / Reitz) and Williams had two hits each.