Late Surge Not Enough For The Berg

Three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning cut the Heidelberg College baseball team’s deficit to four, but that was as close as the Berg could get in a 14-10 non-conference setback to Division II University of Findlay at Peaceful Valley in Tiffin. The loss is the second-straight for the Berg who falls to 14-6 overall, while the Oilers improve to 16-11.

Heidelberg was trailing 14-7 heading into its last at bat. Matt Hille (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) started things off with a lead off single and two batters later L.B. Emrhein (Seven Hills, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) drew a walk. Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) followed Emrhein with a walk of his own to load the bases. Tyler Tocco (Dublin, Ohio / Coffman) hit into a fielder’s choice to reach the base paths. In the process Tocco knocked in Hille. A Findlay throwing error with Alex Rutter (Bowling Green, Ohio / Bowling Green) at the plate pushed two more Heidelberg runs across home plate and pulled Heidelberg within four runs. With two outs, Heidelberg loaded the bases on two-consecutive walks, but left all three runners stranded.

Findlay scored six runs in its first at bat and held an 8-2 advantage after two innings of action. The Berg held the Oilers scoreless through innings three and four, while scoring two runs of its own. Heidelberg and Findlay played an even 6-6 game over the final five innings, but Findlay’s six-run first inning proved to be the difference in the end.

Senior Matt Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) and Hille led the Berg with three hits apiece. Also recording multiple hits was Rutter and Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / North) with two each. Grassley led the way with three RBI.

Heidelberg returns to Ohio Athletic Conference action at Capital University April 7. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.