ADA, Ohio -- Exactly one year after their 2020 season ended because of the then-emerging COVID-19 pandemic, the Heidelberg University baseball team took the field for the first time in 2021.  The Student Princes won a marathon in the opener, 6-5 in 13 innings, then fell to the Polar Bears and darkness in the second game, 5-3 in six innings.  

Fittingly, two players whose original senior seasons were unceremoniously cut short last year, Marc Ochoa and Kyle Jenkins led the offense with three hits apiece.  Ochoa drove in three runs and Jenkins stole two bases. 

Tyler Smith, Stephen Currie and Robert Hunt all tallied two hits on the day.

With the COVID-related changes to the schedule this season, Saturday's games (as well as Sunday's contests) are "pre-conference" contests.  As such, they are not factored into the OAC standings.

GAME ONE:  BERG 6   ONU 5 (13 innings)

After failing to capitalize on a leadoff double back Zach Doran in the top of the first, Heidelberg fell behind in the bottom of the frame.  ONU took the lead on a two-run homer.  

Heidelberg got one back in the top of the fourth.  Aidan Corrigan hit a two-out single and moved to second on an infield single by Stephen Currie. Tyler Smith doubled down the line in left, plating Corrigan.  

The Student Princes took a short-lived lead in the top of the seventh.  Doran and pinch hitter Seth Scoville walked and scored on a double by Marc Ochoa.  

ONU would take a 4-3 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame.  

Undaunted, The Berg rallied for two more in the top of the eighth.  Robert Hunt singled to right, scoring Currie with the tying run.  Kyle Jenkins drove in Smith with a sacrifice fly to right.  

With HU up 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the Polar Bears eked out the equalizer with an unearned run.  

Still tied at five in the top of the 13th, Jenkins singled, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.  He scored on a sacrifice fly by Ochoa.  
ONU got the tying run into scoring position, but freshman Dylan Matusak (1-0) was able to secure the win in his collegiate debut.  

In all, 'Berg Head Coach Chad Fitzgerald used four pitchers in the opener.  Ross Thompson started and went 6+ innings and allowed four runs on six hits, fanning five. Brady Knizner and Cameron Deemer were the first two arms out of the pen for HU, with Deemer throwing four innings.

GAME TWO:  ONU 5   BERG 3

The Student Princes started hot in the second game. Jenkins singled and moved to second on a walk by Scoville.  With two outs, Jake Vanek doubled two right, driving in the pair.  

The hosts cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the inning, then tied the game with a run in the third.  

With the sun setting on the flat Ada countryside, the Polar Bears struck for three in the bottom of the fifth.  

It what proved to be their last chance, Heidelberg plated a run without putting the ball in play.  Woven in between three strikeouts were two walks (drawn by Vanek and Doran) and two hit batters (worn by Currie and Camden Farley).  Doran's walk force in a run.  

Play was halted after the inning because of darkness and was declared final.  Alec Zoeller took the loss, going 4.1 innings.  

UP NEXT:  
Ohio Northern visits Peaceful Valley on Sunday for another doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m.   Fans interested in attending should read the COVID / Heidelberg visitors guide.  

Photo by Touhmong Thao, ONU Sports Information