Port Charlotte, Fla. – March 6, 2011 – The nationally ranked Heidelberg University baseball team opened up its 2011 season with 20 hits en route to a 14-0 victory over College of Mount St. Joseph (2-2) at the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Heidelberg ranks first in the nation according to D3Baseball.com and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. In its season opening victory, 10 different players stepped up to the plate and everyone recorded at least one hit on the day.

Complimenting Heidelberg's offense was a solid defense that played behind the right-arm of sophomore Ethan Holt (Galion, Ohio / West Holmes). Holt started the game down 0-2, but came back to strike out the leadoff batter looking and went on to throw a five-hitter through seven innings to pick up the win. Holt finished the game striking out five. In the field, the Berg turned two double plays and was flawless in the error column.

Heidelberg made a statement early with two first inning runs. Elvin Williams Jr. (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid), Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start) and Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland) led things off with three consecutive singles. Keen's single through the right side knocked in Williams, while Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic) followed with an RBI ground out to give the Berg the early 2-0 advantage.

After a scoreless second, Heidelberg plated seven runs over the next two innings to extend its lead to 9-0. Leading the charge was a five-run, three-hit fourth inning, to go along with three MSJ miscues. Brechun highlighted the scoring in the inning with a two-run home run to deep left field.

Heidelberg added a run in the sixth before closing out its scoring with four runs in the eighth. In the eighth, Heidelberg scored its five runs off of four hits and a MSJ error.

Leading the offense was Lizcano going 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Derek Andrzejczak (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) went 3-for-5 with three RBI, a double and a run scored, while Keen finished 3-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored. Also recording multiple hits was Wiliams, Brechun and Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville).

Providing support for Holt on the mound over the final two innings was Mitch Jones (Dayton, Ohio / Oakwood) and Zach O'Driscoll (Hudson, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit). Jones threw the eighth inning and did not give up a hit, while O'Driscoll closed out the game and struck out one and gave up one hit.

Heidelberg returns to action tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. when it takes on Olivet College.