Tiffin, Ohio – March 26, 2011 – It was anything but peaceful on opening day at Peaceful Valley. The no. 2 ranked Heidelberg University baseball team's offense came alive to back up its pitching staff to sweep a non-conference doubleheader with Case Western Reserve University of the University Athletic Association. Heidelberg won game one 9-4 and returned for a 7-5 victory in game two. The win snapped a two-game slide by the Berg to improve to 13-3, while Case Western drops to 14-9.
In game one, the lead changed hands four times during the first three innings. The Spartans got on the board first with two runs in its first at bat. However, the Berg responded with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the first to take a 3-2 lead. Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland) got the scoring started for the Berg with a single down the right field line to score Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston), who reached with a single. Three batters later, and with two outs, Elvin Williams Jr. (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid) knocked in two runs with a double to left field.
Case Western came back in the second with two more runs before keeping the Berg scoreless to hold a one-run lead at 4-3.
Heidelberg took the lead for good after batting around in the third inning to come up with five runs, off of four hits and took advantage of a Spartan miscue. Knocking in runs was Williams, Derek Andrzejczak (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) and Keen. Monroe worked the count and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to send in a run, while an error by the shortstop sent a run across the plate for the Berg. Andrzejczak knocked in the final 'Berg run in the sixth inning.
Getting the start, and throwing a complete game, was sophomore right-hander Ethan Holt (Galion, Ohio / West Holmes). Holt gave up eight hits and four earned runs, while strikeing out six. The win improved Holt's record to 3-0.
The Berg hitters combined to record 16 hits in the win. Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic) and Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) each had three hits, while Andrzejczak, Monroe and Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Mich. / Marysville) had two apiece. Brechun led the way with three runs scored, while Williams had three RBI.
In the second game Heidelberg jumped out a 7-1 lead after three innings and held off a late threat by the Spartans in the seventh for the win.
Contributing to the early scoring was a first inning two-run home run to left field by Brechun, along with a leadoff, first-pitch, long ball from Andrzejczak to left field in the second. Heidelberg also was productive with two outs in the third, scoring three runs. Leading the way was a two-RBI single to left field by Buelow.
Senior right-hander Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) got the start and threw a four-hitter through 6.0 innings for the win. He struck out six and gave up five runs en route to improving to 3-0 on the year. Fellow classmate Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) entered the game in the sixth and helped preserve Koehl's victory. Lowe gave up three hits and stuck out two for his fifth save on the year.
Brechun and Buelow each had two hits and two RBI to lead the Berg to eight hits in the game two win. Finishing with a hit apiece was Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start), Lash, Williams and Andrzejczak.
These two teams will conclude a three-game series tomorrow at Peaceful Valley. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.