DELAWARE, Ohio – Opponents of the Heidelberg University baseball team cannot be happy to see the Spring Equinox on the calendar. As days start getting longer, the high-octane 'Berg offense will now have even more time to mash the ball.

The Student Princes welcomed in spring with an 18-3 drubbing of Ohio Wesleyan University on Thursday. The Big-Inning 'Berg broke the game open with a seven-run second inning, powered by a grand slam by reigning OAC hitter of the week Trevor Oldham.

Heidelberg starter Kyle Fluharty allowed no runs on four hits in five innings of work and improved to 3-0.

In the first, Steven Morse drove in the first HU run with a two-out single to center, scoring Arneal Squibb.

The seven-run second started as Alex Grove extended his hitting streak to 16 games with an infield single. After a walk to Adam Hershberger, Andrew Zenczak reached when his sacrifice bunt was errantly thrown away. With the bases loaded, Joe Staab lifted a fly ball to center, plating Grove. After Squibb flew out, OWU starter J.J. Buckey issued three straight walks to Eric Monroe, Derek Hug and Morse.

Oldham followed with a grand slam to center field. It was the first collegiate home run for the junior from Archbishop Hoban High School.

"'T.O.' is seeing the ball really well," said head coach Matt Palm, referring to Oldham. "He continues to get big hits for us."

An RBI groundout from Squibb in the third gave Heidelberg (13-2) a 9-0 lead.

Hug led off the fourth with a double to right center, moved to third and scored on a ground out by Grove. Hershberg and Staab each followed with RBI singles.

Three doubles highlighted a four run fifth inning, which gave HU a 16-0 lead. Hug and Morse doubled after Monroe led off with a walk. Oldham singled home Morse and scored on a double by Grove, who was thrown out trying for a triple.

Heidelberg drew 13 walks in the game.

Through all of the long innings, Fluharty was steady on the mound for the Tricolor.

"'Flu' pitched really well," said Palm. "He challenged hitters and had great tempo."

Hug's third hit of the game, a two-out single in the sixth, drove in Squibb.

In the seventh, Derek Hendrixson singled home Alex Manner. Alex, the younger brother of HU pitcher Adam Manner, was 2-for-2 in his collegiate debut.

After Travis Gray worked two scoreless innings in relief of Fluharty, the Battling Bishops scored three times in the final two innings off of Nick Reiter and Jordan Watson.

The Student Princes, ranked No. 16 by the American Baseball Coaches Association, are averaging 13.67 runs per game. With 17 hits on Thursday, the team has 10+ hits in all but three games this season.

Heidelberg has had at least one double in 22 straight games, dating back to last season.

Conference play is scheduled to start on Saturday. The Berg travels to Berea to face Baldwin Wallace University. The 1 p.m. doubleheader will feature a pair of nine-inning games, rather than a seven and a nine inning game as in years past.

GAME NOTES: Thursday's game came a day after the Student Princes and Battling Bishops were halted by rain in the top of the first inning ... Instead of resuming the game, a new contest was started ... For the first time this season, no Heidelberg batters were hit by a pitch ... Through the first 15 games, HU has score four or more runs in 20 different innings ... Oldham has 16 two-out RBIs this season, Hug has 15.