Heidelberg 11, Ohio Wesleyan 10

April 1, 2008

Sophomore third baseman Eric McComas (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves) drove in a run to bring the Bishops within 11-10 in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Heidelberg survived the Bishop rally to escape with a non-conference win over Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday at Littick Field.

Freshman outfielder Zach Frentsos (Delaware/Hayes) and junior shortstop Logan Hronis (Rocky River/St. Edward) ripped back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 9-9 in the bottom of the seventh, completing a Bishop comeback from deficits of 8-4 and 9-6.

Heidelberg took an 11-9 lead in the top of the ninth. Biagio Boytim led off with a single but was forced at second on a sacrifice attempt by Andrew Buelow. Steve Decker and Jason Lash were hit by pitches to load the bases and Jeremy Wentworth followed with a fly ball to Frentsos in left field. The ball came loose as Frentsos attempted to throw the ball back to the infield, and it was ruled there was no catch on the play. McComas tracked down Frentsos's throw and forced Lash at second base for the second out, but Buelow scored from third and Decker displayed alert baserunning by never stopping en route to the plate and what proved to be the deciding run.

Ohio Wesleyan threatened in the bottom of the inning, with senior outfielder Joey McDaniel (Dublin/Scioto) leading off with a double. One out later, Hronis legged out an infield hit, with McDaniel going to third when Lash threw wildly on the play. McComas plated McDaniel with an infield out, but senior first baseman Caleb Douce (Caledonia/River Valley) flied out to center to end the game.

Senior first baseman A.J. Dote (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) staked the Bishops to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, singling home Frentsos and Hronis.

Heidelberg answered with 3 runs in the top of the second, capped by Wentworth's RBI single, but the Bishops retook the lead in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff homer to straightaway center by senior outfielder Brent Wilkins (Fairview Park/Fairview) and Frentsos's RBI single later in the inning.

Boytim slammed a 2-run homer in the third to put Heidelberg ahead, 5-4, and the Student Prices added 3 runs in the fourth, with Willie Brechum's 2-run double the key hit.

McDaniel's 2-run double brought the Bishops within 8-6 in the bottom of the fourth, but Heidelberg responded with Lash's RBI single in the top of the fifth for a 9-6 lead.

The Bishops closed to within 9-8 in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases on a single by senior second baseman Jerrell Johnson (Shaker Heights), a single by Wilkins and a walk to sophomore catcher Steve Ruygrok (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek). One out later, McDaniel walked to force in a run and Frentsos was hit by a pitch to score Wilkins to make it 9-8.

McDaniel went 3-for-5 and drove in 3 runs, while Frentsos was 3-for-5 with 2 RBI for the Bishops.

Junior righthander Greg Vasami (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) started on the mound for Ohio Wesleyan, pitching the first 5.0 innings. Freshman righthander Eric Livingston (Delaware/Hayes) pitched a scoreless sixth, seventh and eighth but was charged with the loss.

Steve Calevro picked up the win in relief for the Student Princes.

Box Score