WOOSTER -- In a season which seemed like every ball bounced in favor of their opponents, the Heidelberg University baseball team was the beneficiary of a Wooster throwing error that allowed HU to escape with a 3-2 victory.
Trailing by a run with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth, Heidelberg pinch hitter
Andrew Pokley sent a bouncer to third. Gloved cleanly, the potential game-ending throw across the diamond was low and bounced down the right field line.
The win pushed HU's record to 14-19 on the season.
Heidelberg took the lead in the top of the first in workman-like fashion.
Braedy Limke singled and sprinted to third on a single by
Aidan Corrigan.
Andrew Cook followed with a sacrifice fly to center.
After a sensational grab on a line drive to the gap off the bat of Garrett Labeau that thwarted a threat in the top of the third, Wooster plated a pair off starter
Jackson Armbrecht in the bottom of the inning.
Wooster held the 2-1 lead until the ninth. Corrigan and Cook hit one-out singles before
Adam McVicker was hit by a pitch. Pokley arrived at the plate with two outs and put the ball in play -- taking advantage of the error.
Orion Kroah (1-0) picked up the win in relief. Kroah threw three full innings of one-hit ball.
Corey Brafford (Sv., 1) earned the save, working around a one-out double in the ninth to seal the win.
Kroah and Brafford's sharp pitching performances matched the start of
Jackson Armbrecht. Armbrecht, a noted sports fan, scattered three hits over five innings of work.
Of Heidelberg's nine hits, eight came from the top third of the lineup.
The Student Princes will remain in non-conference action this week, traveling to Oberlin on Tuesday and hosting Anderson on Wednesday.