PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.—The Heidelberg University baseball team wrapped up its 10-game southern tour today, falling to Rhodes (Tenn.) College, 6-4, at the Snowbird Baseball Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla. Four Student Princes had multi-hit days, but the Berg left 11 men on base and finished its southern tour 5-5.
Rhodes scored twice in the bottom of the first inning and again in the second inning to open a 3-0 lead.
In the 'Berg third, a leadoff double by freshman third baseman Trevor Oldham (Akron/Archbishop Hoban), another two-bagger by sophomore second baseman Joe Chiarappa (Clinton/St. Vincent-St. Mary's) and a single by senior first baseman Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo/Start) sent two runs across the plate.
Both teams cruised through the middle innings before Chiarappa tripled home Oldham, who singled in the seventh, breaking the tie.
An error in the bottom half of the inning opened the dates for a three more Rhodes runs.
The Berg loaded the bases in the eighth, but came away with just one run. A groundout to second base by senior left fielder Ross Pruitt (Elletsville, Ind./Edgewood) scored Lizcano, who singled to lead off the inning.
Heidelberg threatened twice in the ninth, putting the first two batters of the inning on base before a double play, and later loaded the bases, but Rhodes escaped the inning to preserve the win.
Chiarappa who finished the day 2-for-3 with two runs batted-in and another run scored. Lizcano was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run, sophomore right fielder Arneal Squibb (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) was 2-for-4, and Oldham reached base all four turns at bat, going 2-for-2 with two walks and a pair of runs scored.
Junior right hander Tyler Fruhwith (Beavercreek) started and worked 6.2 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out six and walking two and was tagged with the loss. Junior righty Teddy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) came on in relief to pitch an inning, fanning two of the four batters he faced while surrendering just one hit. Freshman right hander Ryan Minteer (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) struck out the only better he faced.
Heidelberg opens the northern portion of its schedule with a three-game series at Manchester (Ind.) College with a single game on Friday, March 16 and a doubleheader on Saturday, March 17.