ANDERSON, IND. – The series finale between Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rivals Anderson University and Manchester University couldn't have been much closer Tuesday, April 14.

The two teams each finished with 12 hits and matched each other runs-wise throughout a nine-inning thriller at Don Brandon Field. With the visiting Spartans (14-11 overall, 7-8 HCAC) on the verge of a key league road victory, the host Ravens (19-8 overall, 11-5 HCAC) pushed aside those chances with a three-run ninth inning comeback for a 7-6 decision. Four hits and a fielder's choice sparked the last at-bat rally.

MU senior starting pitcher Sean Liedtky (Walkerton, Ind.) and AU starter Ben Yoder settled in on the mound early. Yoder didn't surrender a Black and Gold hit until the fourth, while Liedtky allowed just one run on three hits over five innings.

However, from the fifth on, the offenses picked up traction. The Spartans built a 4-1 lead through six and a half fueled by a run-scoring sacrifice bunt from sophomore designated hitter Chad Schultz (Fair Oaks, Ind.) and an RBI single from sophomore first baseman Tailur Szarenski (Bluffton, Ind.). AU started its comeback theme with three in the seventh, but the two-time defending conference champions broke up the 4-4 draw with two in the top of the ninth on a wild pitch and RBI double from Szarenski to stand three outs from the win.

The Black and Gold returns to action Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17. Mt. St. Joseph University comes to Gratz Field for a 4:15 p.m. single game Friday and 12 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.

NOTES: Senior third baseman Jordan Nieman (Michigan City, Ind.) added another game to his long hit and on-base skeins, moving to 28 straight behind a fourth inning single … Szarenski's three-for-five, two RBI game upped his on-base string to 28, while senior outfielder Kyle Norris (Indianapolis, Ind.), going two-for-four with an RBI increased a similar streak to 21 straight games … Liedtky wound up with four strikeouts, allowed only two walks and gave up just four earned runs in a complete-game effort.