Heidelberg And Wilmington Split Lopsided Pair Of Games

Following two days of postponements the third day was the charm for Heidelberg College and Wilmington College to take the field in southern Ohio for an Ohio Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader. In preparation for the contest both teams were prepared for uncharacteristic April weather conditions, but never anticipated a 14 run win by Heidelberg and a 12 run victory by the Quakers.

Heidelberg recorded 13 hits en route to a 16-2 win in game one, while Wilmington responded with 19 hits of its own in game two for a 17-5 victory in the night cap. The split leaves Heidelberg at 19-8 overall and 6-2 in the OAC, while Wilmington stands at 12-9 overall and 2-5 in league action.

In game one sophomore left-hander David Paddock (Westerville, Ohio / North) handled the Quakers at the plate, pitching 6.0 innings and giving up four hits, while striking out nine. Paddock gave up two runs, one earned, to improve to 6-1 on the year, including 3-0 in league action.

Heidelberg’s offense held a 3-0 lead through three innings and exploded for 13 runs over the final four innings of action. Leading the offense in game one was Alex Rutter (Bowling Green, Ohio / Bowling Green) with a 3-for-4 outing, to go along with four RBI and a run scored. Also recording multiple hits in the win was Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles), Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / North) and Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) with two hits apiece. Wentworth and Grassley knocked in four and three runs, respectively.

The night cap saw Heidelberg jump out to a 2-0 lead in its first at bat, but Wilmington responded with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to set the stage for a 17-5 Quaker win. Heidelberg scored a run in the second, but were held scoreless until the seventh when Heidelberg took advantage of two Quaker errors.

Ben Way (Pickerington, Ohio / Central) was the lone ’Berg player to finish with multiple hits. Way went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Heidelberg returns to action against John Carroll at Peaceful Valley tomorrow, April 17. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.