TIFFIN, OHIO – Sophomore outfielder Quentin Rumsey (Auburn, Ind.) homered, tripled and drove in two runs in the nightcap, and sophomore first baseman Nick Rush (Terre Haute, Ind.) tallied three hits in the opener to wind up Manchester University's weekend series at Heidelberg University Sunday, March 18.
Rumsey's home run, a two-run blast to left center field at Peaceful Valley field, gave the Spartans (6-6) a 2-1 lead after seven and a half innings in the finale. However, as was the case during the two days of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference – Ohio Athletic Conference set, the Student Princes' offense proved resilient plating a run in the eighth and scoring an unearned tally in the 10th for a 3-2 victory. Senior pitcher Taylor Kopplin (Westport, Ind.) kept his teammates close, striking out 10 Student Princes for his second career double-digit K effort which was the most for a Manchester University starter since April 2017.
Rush's fifth multiple-safety contest of the season in the matinee doubleheader opener propelled a six-run, 10-hit Spartans' attack. Heidelberg took advantage of some tough luck defense to the tune of eight errors to plate four runs in the second, four in the fourth and five in the eighth in route to a 15-6 triumph.
Coach Rick Espeset's squad looks to snap its current three-game skid Monday, March 19, traveling to Crawfordsville, Ind., for a doubleheader against North Coast Athletic Conference foe Wabash College. First pitch is 1 p.m.