DEFIANCE, Ohio—Senior right fielder Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo/Start) hit a first-inning home run and doubled in the eighth to become Heidelberg University's all-time leader in total bases as the Student Princes defeated Defiance College, 8-5, today in a non-conference game at Rutter Field in Defiance, Ohio.
Lizcano came into the game tied with Jason Lash (2008-11) for the school career record for total bases and blasted a two-run shot in the first to claim the record for himself as Heidelberg (23-15) got off to a 2-0 lead. With his double, he ended the day with 425 total bases.
Defiance (12-24) plated a run in the second to cut the 'Berg lead in half.
The Student Princes tacked on two more tallies in the fifth when junior catcher Jordan Martin (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) and Lizcano were both hit by pitches with the bases loaded.
The Yellow Jackets scored a run in the seventh, but Heidelberg tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on a run-batted in single by freshman first baseman Eric Monroe (Chagrin Falls/Kenston) and three more in the ninth, keyed by a two-run double by sophomore designated hitter Ben Blystone (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) and a RBI single by freshman first baseman Doug Miller (West Friendship, Md./Glenelg), the first hit and RBI of his career.
Defiance mounted a three-run rally in the ninth, but senior right-hander Daniel Brannum (Jamestown/Greeneview), put on the mound with one out and the bases loaded, retired two of the four batters he faced to preserve the victory.
Lizcano guided the attack with his double and homer in three at-bats and knocked in three runs while scoring a pair. Sophomore shortstop Andrew Zenczak (Brunswick) also scored twice.
Senior righty Sly Nino (Willard) pitched 6.0 strong innings, surrendering just two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out two and walking two and improved to 3-0. Junior right-hander Teddy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) and freshman righty Travis Gray (Markle, Ind./Norwell) combined for 2.1 innings of relief before Brannum recorded the final two outs.
Bryn Lehman was 2-for-5 at the plate for the Yellow Jackets and Chris Donese knocked in three runs.
Stephen Leskow pitched 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out four, but was tagged with the loss to fall to 2-6.
Heidelberg closes the regular season Saturday by hosting Capital University in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at 1 p.m.