GRANVILLE – The Heidelberg University baseball team had another tough afternoon on a weekday against Denison, falling 11-5. The Student Princes were unable to capitalize on an early opportunity and then fell behind and let the lead grow, making the comeback attempt too steep of a climb. The Berg fell to 27-9 on the season with the loss.
In the top of the first, the Student Princes had a chance. T.J. Harkness singled to lead off the game, and after the Big Red recorded the first out, Heidelberg was able to load the bases on a pair of free bases. A sacrifice fly ball by Christian Verde drove in a run, which was followed up by a walk to Steven Morse to load the bases again. Those runners would be stranded, however, as Denison got a strikeout to end the threat.
The Big Red responded quickly with two runs in the bottom of the frame off of Heidelberg starter Sam Ankrom for the early lead. Ankrom faced Denison earlier this season in Florida, throwing seven scoreless innings to earn the win, but today was a different story.
Heidelberg's bats went quiet in the middle innings as Denison (18-16) scored three in the third, four in the fourth, and one in the fifth to take a commanding 10-1 lead to the sixth inning.
The Student Princes did not go down without a fight as they scored a pair in the sixth to cut into the lead. Derek Hendrixson drove a pinch-hit triple to left center to score the first run of the inning while Harkness hit a sacrifice fly to score Hendrixson.
After a scoreless bottom of the sixth, Heidelberg plated two runs again. Verde smashed a triple to deep left center to score Eric Monroe, who led off the inning with a bloop single to center. Morse drove in Verde with an RBI groundout later in the inning.
Heidelberg was unable to battle all the way back, however, as Denison tacked on one more in the 8th and finished off the 11-5 defeat of the Student Princes.
Ankrom (4-2) took the loss after going 2.2 innings, giving up five runs.
Verde led Heidelberg with a pair of runs driven in for the game while Harkness paced the offense with a pair of hits.
UP NEXT
Heidelberg will return home tomorrow, April 30th, to face La Roche in another non-conference game. That contest is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. at Peaceful Valley.