Baseball Tops Bluffton On The Road 6-3

The Heidelberg College baseball team picked up a 6-3 non-conference road victory at Bluffton University today. The win improved the Berg to 15-7 overall on the year, while the Beavers fall to 1-5.

After two scoreless innings Heidelberg made its way onto the scoreboard courtesy of an RBI single from Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles). Wentworth knocked in Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) who opened the inning with a leadoff double. Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / North) followed Wentworth with a sacrifice fly to second base that scored Ben Way (Pickerington, Ohio / Central) to give Heidelberg a 2-0 lead. Way laid down a bunt to reach the base paths.

The Beavers responded with three runs in the fourth inning to hold a 3-2 advantage. Heidelberg would settle down and did not allow another Bluffton run to cross home plate for the rest of the contest. Heidelberg’s eventual game-winning run came on a Grassley RBI single to right field in the fifth inning.

Earning the win on the mound was Kyle Hintze (Fremont, Ohio / Fremont Ross). Hintze pitched 6.0 innings, giving up seven hits and striking out eight. Helping to preserve the win with an inning of relief work each was Bryan Hartman (Circleville, Ohio / Logan Elm) and Steve Calevro (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg), while Dan Machovina (Elyria, Ohio / Midview) came in to close out the contest in the final inning and gave up no hits and no runs to earn the save.

Leading Heidelberg’s offense was Wentworth and Way with three hits apiece. Way scored two runs, while Wentworth had two RBI and a run scored. Grassley finished with two hits and knocked in two runs.

Heidelberg returns to Ohio Athletic Conference action tomorrow when Ohio Northern University visits Peaceful Valley for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.