COLUMBUS -- The Heidelberg University baseball team picked up two mercy-rule victories over Capital University and swept the weekend series from the Crusaders. Bolstered by three home runs on a beautiful day in Central Ohio, Heidelberg won the opener 17-3 and took the nightcap, 11-1.
Heidelberg moved to 10-6 overall, 7-5 in the OAC standings.
Tyler Smith had four hits, scored five runs, and drove in seven, pacing the Heidelberg offense.
Cayden Rollins had five hits on the day, adding three RBI and five runs scored.
Keaton Mark had five hits, including three doubles and, like Smith and Rollins, he also scored five times.
Marc Ochoa had four hits while
Johnny Medvec and
Robert Hunt each tallied three. Medvec added six RBI.
GAME ONE: BERG 17 CAP 3 (7 innings)
On the 267th at bat of his career,
Tyler Smith slugged his first home run -- a three-run shot to right center in the second inning. The homer drove in
Marc Ochoa and
Cayden Rollins, both of whom singled.
HU put up a five-spot in the third.
Keaton Mark doubled and scored on a single by Ochoa. An error and a single loaded the bases for Smith. Clearly afraid of his power, Capital walked him and forced in a run. Two more runs scored on a throwing error.
Robert Hunt drove in the final run of the inning with a single to shortstop.
The Crusaders touched up
Ryan Hackworth for three unearned runs in the bottom half of the third. Hackworth worked five full innings, allowing eight hits and striking out three.
In the fifth, Smith singled up the middle, moved to second on a ground out, and over to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Hunt.
Rollins joined the power party in the sixth inning, connecting on a three-run homer to left, scoring Mark and Ochoa. With two outs and the bases empty,
Deaunte Fleming singled and scored on a throwing error on a bunt by Hunt. Hunt scored on a double by
Zach Doran.
Heidelberg added three in the seventh for good measure. Smith continued his incredible game with a two-run double and
Jake Vanek had a pinch-hit, run-scoring double.
Mason Metz and
A.J. Mancini worked a scoreless inning in their season debuts.
GAME TWO: BERG 11 CAP 1 (7 innings)
Johnny Medvec kickstarted the offense in the second with a two-out, two-run double to right center that scored Smith and
Kyle Jenkins.
In the third, Heidelberg enjoyed a six-run outburst. Mark singled home Doran, then Ochoa doubled home Rollins. With one out, Smith sent a sacrifice fly to center that scored Mark. After Fleming walked, Medvec slugged Heidelberg's third three-run homer of the day. Medvec's first career homer gave HU an 8-0 lead.
Heidelberg increased the lead with a pair in the fourth. Jenkins had an RBI ground out and Medvec drove in a run with an infield single.
Up 10-0, the final HU run of the day came on a balk.
As the offense piled up runs, 'Berg starter
Jake Hall (2-1) efficiently kept the Crusaders at bay. Hall went five full innings and allowed a mere two hits while fanning three.
Ridge Clark allowed one run in the sixth then
Ryan Keane made his season debut, working a scoreless seventh inning -- preserving the mercy-rule..
UP NEXT:
Heidelberg and Ohio Northern reunite for a four-game weekend series. Saturday's games are scheduled for Ada and Sunday's games are in Tiffin.
