Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | 23-Game Season Stats
WESTERVILLE, Ohio—The Heidelberg University baseball team rallied for five runs in the seventh inning to win the first game, 10-7, of an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader against Otterbein University, but fell, 7-5, in a darkness-shortened nightcap at Fischbaugh Field in Westerville, Ohio. The twinbill was delayed for more than two hours due to heavy rain earlier in the day.
The Student Princes (14-9, 3-1 OAC) tied the game, 2-2, in the top of the fourth inning with run batted-in singles by freshman designated hitter Trevor Oldham (Akron/Archbishop Hoban) and junior catcher Jordan Martin (Powell/Olentangy), but Otterbein (15-9, 2-2 OAC) put together a four-run inning of its own in the bottom half of the frame to jump out to a 6-2 lead.
The Berg rallied for three runs in the sixth without an extra-base hit, chasing starter Greg Moomaw from the mound, and tacked on five more runs in the seventh on the heels of a two-run single by senior left fielder Ross Pruitt (Elletsville, Ind./Edgewood) and a two-run triple by senior shortstop Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo/Start), this week’s OAC hitter of the week. The triple was the 15th of Lizcano’s career, leaving him one shy of tying the school record.
Senior right hander Daniel Brannum (Jamestown/Greeneview) allowed a Cardinal run in the sixth, but retired six of the 10 batters he faced and earned the win to improve to 4-0.
Pruitt was 3-for-5 in game one with three RBI and a run scored and Oldham had three safeties of his own in as many at-bats with one RBI and a pair of runs.
Senior righty Sly Nino (Willard) started and pitched the first 3.2 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits and issuing three free passes, before being relieved by junior right hander Teddy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll). Lowe worked through the fifth inning and allowed just two hits before ceding the mound to Brannum.
Thomas Linder led Otterbein at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and Billy Harkenrider was 2-for-4 with a trio of runs scored.
Moomaw pitched 5.1 innings, surrendering five runs on 11 hits and struck out three, but worked to a no decision. OAC pitcher of the week Dustin Reuter came on to work the seventh and allowed two runs in just one-third of an inning and suffered the loss to fall to 5-2.
In the second game, the Cardinals sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning and took a 6-1 lead on the strength of four consecutive singles. Lowe again came on in relief for freshman righty Bryan Peters (Cuyahoga Falls/Woodridge), who lasted 1.1 innings, allowing all six runs on seven hits while striking out two and took the loss to fall to 0-2.
A RBI double by senior center fielder Elvin Williams (Euclid) in the third was negated by a Steve Kettering home run in the bottom half of the frame.
Heidelberg rallied for three runs in the fifth to cut the deficit to two, but the game was called after the top of the sixth due to darkness.
Freshman first baseman Eric Monroe (Chagrin Falls/Kenston) was 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI and a run, while Pruitt was 2-for-3 with two runs. Oldham extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Williams’ 11-game streak came to an end after he went hitless in the first game.
Lowe allowed one hit and struck out one in two-third innings of relief and freshman righty Travis Gray (Markle, Ind./Norwell) allowed one run on one hit in 3.0 innings.
Linder was 2-for-2 at the plate for the Cardinals with one RBI and one run and was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
Dominic Porretta worked all 6.0 innings on the mound and gave up eight hits and fanned four batters.
Heidelberg will enjoy a pair of off days before hosting Muskingum University in an OAC doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m.