ADA, Ohio – The No. 8 Heidelberg University baseball team closed out the regular season with a pair of losses at Ohio Northern University on Saturday. The Polar Bears won the first game 4-3 in 11 innings and rallied to win the nightcap, 7-3.
In the 11th inning of game one, ONU's Reed Allen ripped a double just beyond the reach of a diving Arneal Squibb in right center, driving in Daniel Rodriguez for the game-winning run.
Heidelberg (31-9, 13-5) had their opportunities to score the go ahead run in the late innings. Heidelberg had a runner in scoring position in the 9th, 10th and 11th inning, but failed to drive him in. In the top of the 11th, HU loaded the bases with no outs. Trevor Oldham lifted a fly ball down the right field line which was caught by Dan Belliveau. Belliveau fired a bullet to home and nabbed T.J. Harkness who was trying to score from third.
Heidelberg scored all three of their first-game runs in the fifth. Adam Hershberger hit a one-out single up the middle and moved to second on a walk to Oldham. Andrew Zenczak reached on an error, which loaded the bases.
During Joe Staab's at bat, the 'Berg second baseman asked for time just prior to the start of ONU starter Nick Eltzroth's wind up. As Staab stepped out, the home plate did not grant time. Seemingly confused, Eltzroth halted his delivery before throwing the pitch, resulting in a balk. Hershberger scored on the miscue, tying the game at one. Staab reached base on a hit by pitch.
Oldham scored on a sacrifice fly by Squibb, giving HU a 2-1 lead. With runners on the corners, Staab and Zenczak pulled off a double steal.
Ohio Northern (28-12, 11-7 OAC) tied the game on a two-run double by Rodriguez in the sixth.
Chris Thomas threw 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Derek Hendrixson picked up the loss in relief, throwing 5.1 innings, allowing just one run on three hits.
In the second inning of the nightcap, the Student Princes plated three runs. Austin Fleming walked and moved to second on an infield hit by Derek Hug. Eric Monroe followed and hit a liner off the back of ONU starter Zach Maier, which caromed toward third for a single. After Fleming scored on a wild pitch, Adam Hershberger and Oldham followed with RBI groundouts.
After scoring single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth, Ohio Northern plated four runs in the seventh. Two Heidelberg errors aided Polar Bears, who took a 7-3 lead.
Steve Huber started the second game for HU, allowing two runs in 4.1 innings. Huber fanned six and allowed four hits. Reliever Kyle Fluharty allowed five runs, one earned, on four hits in 1.2 innings.
Heidelberg advances to the OAC tournament as the #2 seed. The tournament, hosted by #1 seed Marietta, begins on Thursday. ONU will earn a berth in the four-team tournament if John Carroll does not sweep Muskingum tomorrow. Baldwin Wallace has clinched a spot. The 'Berg will face the #3 seed, which has not been determined.