TIFFIN -- In their home opener, the Heidelberg University Baseball split a doubleheader with Westminster College on Friday, winning game one by a score of 3-1, and losing game two by the same margin. 

Senior Corey Brafford got the nod in game one for the Student Princes, and did not disappoint. He dealt six strong innings for the 'Berg, giving up just one run on five hits while racking up five strikeouts in the process. 

Freshman Sam Schneider opened up the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning, plating senior Kyle Krummen. 

The score was locked at 1-0 until the top of the fifth, where the Titans evened things up on a Heidelberg defensive miscue at first base. Heidelberg stormed back in the home half of the inning; Sam Schneider drew a walk, and later in the inning, Andrew Pokley was able to bring him home on a base hit poked through the right side to give Heidelberg a 2-0 lead. 

Westminster brought in a new pitcher in the seventh inning, and Junior Garrett LaBeau parked the fifth pitch beyond the right field wall in a "no-doubt" insurance run for the Student Princes. It's the Heidelberg catcher's second career homer, and first since 2023. 

Senior Payton Moser was tasked with finishing things up, and he did so efficiently, posting just one hit and two strikeouts over the final three frames. 

Schneider and Pokley finished with two hits a piece, and each picked up an RBI in the victory.

Dylan Matusak was on the bump for game number two, where he was locked in a pitcher's duel with Westminster's Tyson Djakovich. 

The Titans hit three singles in the fifth and sixth innings, putting up a run a piece in each frame. 

Heidelberg cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth, when Pokley smashed a lead off triple over the head of the center fielder, and Braden Keeney hit a deep sacrifice fly to left field. 

Westerville answered back in the eight by hitting a solo shot to deep left center field. 

Matusak finished with seven strikeouts in the loss. 

Thomas McGuire finished with three hits, and Logan Walpole picked up two hits in front of a boisterous Heidelberg crowd. 

Heidelberg and Westminster are slated for a single game at noon on Saturday, weather permitting.