TIFFIN – Big eighth innings helped propel the No. 20 Heidelberg University baseball team to a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, defeating the University of Mount Union 16-10 and 8-3.

Sophomore T.J. Harkness, who came on as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of game one, was 5-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored. Steven Morse and Adam Hershberger each drove in four runs on the afternoon.

Derek Hendrixson picked up the win in the opener, improving to 5-1 with 3 saves on the season. The freshman threw 4.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits.

In the second game, starter Steve Huber threw a strong 5.2 innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits. Huber improved to 2-0.

Kyle Fluharty earned the save in the night cap by throwing 3.1 scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing three hits.

"It's nice having five or six guys you can count on to eat up innings," said head coach Matt Palm. "It makes nine inning games a lot more doable."

Heidelberg (20-4, 5-1 OAC) took a 2-1 lead in the first inning on a two-run double to right center by Morse, plating Joe Staab and Arneal Squibb.

Mount Union (12-7, 1-5 OAC) regained the lead with a pair of runs off of starter Chris Thomas. After a string of strong starts, Thomas allowed seven runs on 11 hits.

An infield single by Squibb brought home Andrew Zenczak with the tying run in the bottom of the fourth.

In the fifth inning, the Purple Raiders broke out for four runs. Evan Knott led off with a double, but was tagged out on a fielder's choice by Justin Jakubik. A single and an error put runners on second and third with one out. A walk loaded the bases for Sean Mohney, who delivered a two-run single up the middle. Ricky Olasz followed with another RBI single through the middle. Reliever Ben Sniezek came on and limited the damage by inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Trailing 7-3, the Student Princes erupted for seven two-out runs in the bottom of the fifth, which took a combined 45 minutes to complete. With one out, Derek Hug drew a walk and moved to third on a single by Alex Grove. Pinch hitter Doug Miller flared a ball into shallow left that Mount shortstop Lee Grosscup caught over his shoulder with his back to the infield. Trevor Oldham singled home Hug and Grove advanced to third. Hershberger followed with an RBI-double down the right field line, cutting the MTU lead to 7-5. Zenczak was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Mount Union went to their bullpen and, unlike the Berg, was not able to stop the bleeding. Ryan Sason came on and hit Staab, walked Squibb and Morse, which gave HU an 8-7 lead. Hug hit a ball to second that took a tough hop on Mohney. The hit allowed two more runs to score.

In the sixth, the Purple Raiders tied the game on a three-run homer to left off of Hendrixson. Sniezek allowed a single and walk before Hendrixson entered. The infield nearly turned a double play as Hershberger dove for a groundball at third and threw to second for the force. Staab's relay to Morse was a split-second behind Jeff Bennett. After James Weber struck out, Mohney blasted the homer over the head of Hug in left.

The score remained tied at 10 until another big inning for The Berg in the eighth. Harkness started the six-run rally with a pinch hit single to center. Playing for one run, Oldham laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Harkness. Hershberger blooped a single to center and Harkness moved to third. Zenczak drove home the go ahead run with an infield single to third base. After Staab was hit by another pitch, Squibb drew a bases-loaded walk. Morse followed with a single to center, which scored Zenczak. By the time Grove ripped a two-run single through the left side and Harkness hit an RBI single to left, the Tricolor had grabbed a 16-10 lead.

Hendrixson worked around a lead-off walk to keep the Purple Raiders off the board to close the first game.

The second game started much like the first. Mount Union scored quickly in the first and forced Heidelberg to respond.

After allowing two unearned runs, Heidelberg plated three in the second inning. Again, Harkness served as the catalyst. He singled and scored on a double off the wooden left field wall by Hershberger. Oldham singled and Zenczak brought home Hershberger with an infield single. Staab laced a line drive sacrifice fly to center, which scored Oldham.

In the third, the Student Princes added an unearned run on an RBI groundout by Hershberger.

After cutting the 'Berg lead to 4-3 in the fifth, Mount Union had a chance to tie up the game. With Jakubik on second and two outs, Bennett poked a single to left. Charging hard, Hug fielded the ball on a bounce and fired a one-hopper to Grove. Grove applied the tag and Jakubik was called out to end the inning.

Heidelberg added an insurance run in the seventh. Grove scored from second base on a sacrifice fly to deep right center field by Oldham.

Leading 5-3, the Student Princes added another three runs in the eighth. At the center of the rally was Harkness, who doubled home a pair. He scored on a basehit by Hershberger.

"I thought T.J. did a great job coming off of the bench and had some really good at-bats all the way through," said Palm. "He gave us a big lift in both games."

Squibb and Zenczak each recorded four hits on the afternoon. In the doubleheader, Zenczak raised his season average to .286, up 72 points from the start of the day.

Heidelberg remains in second place in the OAC, behind 4-0 John Carroll. The Blue Streaks and Ohio Northern doubleheader was postponed until Sunday.  

Heidelberg travels to Capital University for a Wednesday doubleheader in Columbus. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES:  Heidelberg has won five straight regular season games against Mount Union. ... The Student Princes are 20-4 for the first time since 2011. ... Prior to the game, Palm's daughter Cecilia sang the national anthem. ... On the season, HU has outscored opponents 237-132.  Heidelberg scored 232 runs in all of 2013. ... Eight Student Princes have already eclipsed the 20-RBI plateau.  In 2012, only four players hit the mark.