TIFFIN - The Heidelberg University baseball team dropped a pair of heartbreaking close games on Senior Day at Peaceful Valley on Monday to Otterbein University. The Student Princes had a tough luck play that cost them runs in the first game where they fell 3-2, while game two saw the Berg fall 6-5 in 10 innings.

Heidelberg fell to 16-22 (5-11 OAC) while Otterbein improved to 27-7 (12-4 OAC).

A throwing error on what could have been an inning-ending double play ignited a three-run inning for Otterbein in the top of the fourth against Adam Manner as the Cardinals got on the board first in game one.

The Student Princes struck for a run in the bottom of the sixth. TJ Harkness lined a single to center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Manner. After moving to third on a passed ball, Harkness trotted home on a two-out single by Derek Hug.

Cory Jacobs led off the seventh with a basehit -- his second off of his high school teammate, Otterbein's Robert Kemer. Jacobs would score on a bouncer through the middle by Kyle Slovick. Later, with the bases loaded and two outs, Adam Hershberger sent a hard-hit ball toward the hole on the left side. Harkness, who was running with the 3-2 pitch, couldn't dodge the ball which ended the threat and kept Otterbein on top 3-2.

Heidelberg couldn't find an equalizer in the eighth or ninth, as Otterbein took game one, 3-2.

With his eight innings pitched, Adam Manner moved into second place all-time for innings pitched at Heidelberg with 253.1. He passed Sean Hoover (250.1 IP, 1993-96) and Brian Koehl (251.1 IP, 2008-11). Manner (3-5) allowed seven hits and no earned runs in the loss.

In game two, Kyle Fluharty breezed through the first two innings before running into trouble in the third. Otterbein used five hits and a Heidelberg error to score four times.

The Student Princes finally worked their way into the run column in the fifth inning when a two-out double by Evan Long cut the deficit to three.

After an Otterbein run in the top of the seventh made it 5-1, Heidelberg responded with a four-run outburst in the the home half of the frame. A walk and a hit batsman put two on with two outs. Hershberger dropped in an RBI single into center field, plating Joe Walton. Hug followed with a two-run triple, scoring on an errant relay throw by the second baseman. The little league home run tied the game at five.

Those runs sent the game to extra innings, where Otterbein came out on top, scoring one in the top of the 10th, while Heidelberg was unable to battle back, falling 6-5.

Steve Huber (2-5) took the loss in relief while Kyle Fluharty registered no decision after throwing seven innings and allowing five runs, four earned.

Hug's 3 stolen bases on the day brought his career total to 60, which pushed him past Frank Balogh (98-02) and Kyle Leatherman (02-05) for second place in program history. He trails Jeremy Wentworth, who had 79 stolen bases from 2006-09. Hug's triple in the second game put him in a three-way tie atop the career list with 16, equalling Wentworth and Ricardo Lizcano (09-12).

UP NEXT

Heidelberg will wrap up their 2016 campaign on Friday when they travel to Wilmington for a doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.