ALLIANCE -- The Heidelberg University baseball team fell in the semifinal round of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament.  The fifth-seeded Student Princes lost a back-and-forth affair with the second-seeded Mount Union Purple Raiders, 5-4.  

Heidelberg finishes the topsy-turvy 2021 season with a 24-16-1 record.  Mount Union advances to the finals of the OAC Tournament.  

The close of the season also wrapped up the memorable careers of many upperclassmen -- careers that included the magical 2019 season.  

The Student Princes had 10 hits and drew five walks on the day, but were hampered by four Mount Union double plays.  

Heidelberg took an early lead.  Tyler Smith drew a one-out walk and slid into third on a double to left by Keaton Mark.  Marc Ochoa followed with a double to the gap in left center, plating a pair.  

Mount Union tied the game with a two-out, two-run single to center in the bottom of the second.  

The score remained tied at two into the fifth inning.  Zack Mazza broke the tie with an RBI single into center.  

Trailing 3-2, HU briefly tied the game in the seventh.  Kyle Jenkins walked and alertly moved to third on a bunt single by Robert Hunt.  Zach Doran lined a double just inside the right field line, scoring Jenkins.  

Mazza put the Purple Raiders back on top with a one-out solo homer in the bottom of the seventh.  

With Mount starter Thomas Gallant over 120 pitches, Eric DeVore blasted a game-tying home run over the 12-foot fence in straight away center.  

Undaunted, the hosts used a two-out double and single to retake the lead in the eighth.  

Down to their final three outs, Heidelberg mustered a two-out walk by Doran, but was unable to push a run across.  

Ryan Hackworth started for HU, throwing six full innings.  He gave up three runs (two earned) on nine hits and struck out eight.  Zane Mirgon worked the final two frames.