FORT PIERCE, Florida -- The Heidelberg University Baseball team fell in a slugfest against reigning national champion Misericordia University by a score of 15-13 on Thursday. The Student Princes had four multi-run innings, including a five run ninth inning rally, but a nine run sixth inning was the difference maker for the Cougars.
Today's matchup is the second between the two teams in five days, as Misericordia got the better of HU in a 12-4 win on Saturday.
Braden Keeney opened up the scoring in the second with a line drive into left center, plating
Thomas McGuire. Misericordia's Owen Cordner gave his team the advantage in the next half inning with a long two-run double over the head of the 'Berg outfield.
In the forth,
Sam Schneider executed a flawless squeeze bunt down the left side to even things up at two, and
Logan Winstead drew a bases loaded walk to take the lead. The Cougars tied things up with an RBI double in the home half of the inning.
Senior
Kyle Krummen knocked a single into right center that brought home Keeney and
Logan Walpole, putting HU in front 5-3 in the fifth.
The Student Princes extended their lead in the sixth inning, thanks to a McGuire HBP and a Walpole fielder's choice.
The Heidelberg lead didn't last for very long. The Cougars stormed back for nine runs off of five hits in the bottom of the sixth to give their team the lead 12-7.
A seventh inning Winstead RBI triple brought the team back into striking distance, but Misericordia tacked on three of their own in the bottom of the eighth.
Leadoff singles by Krummen and Schneider began the 'Berg ninth inning rally. After
Garrett LaBeau was hit by a pitch, Winstead continued his great day at the plate with a two RBI single to bring the Student Princes within five.
A two RBI single for McGuire and a walk brought the tying run to the plate in Keeney. The Heidelberg third baseman worked a hard hit line drive into right field which scored a run, but the rally fell short on the basepaths as HU was thrown out trying to go first to third.
Winstead, Schneider, Keeney and Krummen had three hits apiece, with nine RBI between them.
McGuire, Walpole, and LaBeau each racked up two hits as well.
Heidelberg returns to the diamond on Friday, where they'll square off against Alvernia University. First pitch is slated for 9 am.
