Heidelberg sweeps Muskingum in OAC action

The Muskingum baseball team dropped a doubleheader at Ohio Athletic Conference foe Heidelberg on Saturday afternoon. The Student Princes won the opener 3-1 and claimed the nightcap, 6-2.

The Basics 

• Records: Muskingum (12-19 overall, 5-9 Ohio Athletic Conference), Heidelberg (19-11 overall, 7-7 Ohio Athletic Conference)
• Location: Tiffin, Ohio – Peaceful Valley Stadium

Inside the Numbers - Game One

• Muskingum scored one run on five hits and committed one error.
• Sophomore Holden Martin led the Muskies by going 2-for-4 at the plate, which included a home run, one run scored, and an RBI.
• Senior's Eddie Harper and Brad Donathan, and junior Marc Ibarra each tallied a hit.
• Martin notched the lone run for Muskingum as he pounded a dinger to left field in the top of the fifth.
• Junior Evan Hinds took the loss after pitching a complete game, allowing three runs on nine hits. He also accumulated four strikeouts.  
• Heidelberg scored three runs on nine hits.
• Nine different Heidelberg players collected a hit.
• Trevor Adkins grabbed the win as he pitched in eight innings, allowing one run on three hits, and accrued 11 strikeouts. Joey Wenning pitched the final inning to record the save.

Inside the Numbers - Game Two

• Muskingum scored two runs on eight hits and had two errors.
• Junior Ben Van Wey who went 3-for-4 at the dish with a run scored and an RBI led Muskingum.
• Freshman Luke Currie went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.
• Donathan, freshman Matt Stewart, and freshman Ryan Hernandez each had a hit.
• Freshman Caden Mumaw scored the first Muskie run off an RBI single from Van Wey in the top of the fourth inning. Mumaw reached base on a fielder's choice.
• Van Wey scored the second and final run in the top of the seventh from a sacrifice fly to center field by Currie. Van Wey opened the inning with a single to left center.
• Martin started the game and pitched six innings after allowing four runs on six hits.
• Heidelberg scored six runs on nine hits.
• Evan Long went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Student Princes.
• Alex Sir Louis registered the win after pitching in seven innings and allowing two runs on seven hits.

Game Highlights

In the opener, the first four innings were scoreless as neither team produced a run until the top of the fifth inning. Martin opened the fifth with a solo dinger to left field to put Muskingum on the scoreboard for an early 1-0 advantage. It did not last long as the Student Princes answered back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead, 2-1. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning and a runner on second, Heidelberg's batter reached first on a fielding error, allowing the runner to score, making it 3-1. Ibarra opened the ninth with a single to left field, then Donathan singled to third base, advancing Ibarra to second. Martin was the next batter and flied out to left field to left center. Junior pinch hitter Michael Pagano grounded into double play to end game one.   

In game two, Marietta got off to a quick start as they scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take an early 2-0 lead. An RBI single by Van Wey in the top of the fourth got the Muskies on the board. The Student Princes notched a run in the fourth and fifth to push their advantage, 4-1. In the top of the seventh, Currie's sacrifice fly allowed Van Wey to cross the plate for the second run. With two outs, Heidelberg stole home to score its fifth run in the bottom of the seventh. On the next play, the Student Princes hit an RBI single to increase their lead, 6-2. Muskingum started the ninth inning with two quick outs, but a double down the right line by Currie kept the Muskies alive. Next at-bat was Harper who was hit by a pitch, followed by Martin who was walked. With bases loaded, pinch hitter Pagano popped up to the shortstop to finish game two.

Up Next

• Muskingum next plays at non-conference opponent Bethany (W.V.) on Monday, April 23. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.