TIFFIN -- In their final non-conference contest of the season, the Heidelberg University Baseball team emerged victorious, upending Calvin University, 10-6. On a humid day in Peaceful Valley, the Student Princes rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win.
Heidelberg moved to 15-23 and Calvin slipped to 20-16.
Down 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Heidelberg got on the board.
Theo Walsh was hit by a pitch to lead off. He raced around the bases on a line-drive double by
Sam Schneider that landed on the right field line.
After
Henry Mates worked a quick 1-2-3 inning, the Student Princes got to work in the bottom of the fifth.
Thomas McGuire ripped a double up the alley in left, moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored when
Braden Keeney reached on an error. After
Carter DuBois reached on an errant throw, Walsh lifted an RBI double to the base of the wall in right, tying the game at three. Schneider put HU on top with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring DuBois. The Berg's fourth run of the inning scored when
Logan Walpole drew a bases-loaded walk.
Schneider's superb day at the plate continued in the sixth. With two down, the freshman served a single into right center that drove in DuBois.
Calvin answered with two in the seventh, and threatened to take the lead. With two outs and runners on second and third, Landon Mikula sent a high chopper to the first-base side of the mound. Mates reached and deflected the ball enough to force
Braedy Limke to stop and reverse his course. Limke managed to get to the ball and throw in one motion -- ending the inning.
Heidelberg gratefully accepted four gift runs in the bottom of the frame. DuBois sent a bouncer to short with two out and bases loaded. After ranging to his left to field it, the shortstop tried to tag second for the force out, but was deemed to have missed the bag. The fielder's choice drove in
Garrett LaBeau. With the bases still loaded, Walsh lifted a high fly ball into left. Perhaps aided by wind, the ball fell -- allowing all three base runners to score. HU led, 10-5.
The Knights added a run in the eighth, but
Nicolas Lavelle sealed the win with a 1-2-3 ninth -- highlighted by an acrobatic catch on the warning track in right by
Logan Winstead.
The Student Princes conclude the season at home on Saturday, hosting Ohio Northern. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m., with Senior Day festivities to take place prior to game one.