Ohio Wesleyan 7, Heidelberg 6

March 18, 2009

Junior catcher Steve Ruygrok (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek) slammed a 2-run homer to cap a 5-run, third-inning uprising and the Bishops held on to edge third-ranked Heidelberg in Ohio Wesleyan's home opener on Wednesday at Littick Field.

The Student Princes took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, pushing across a pair of runs with the help of a pair of Ohio Wesleyan errors, but the Bishops bounced back in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.

Senior third baseman Eric McComas (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves) was hit by a pitch to open the inning, then moved to third on a single by freshman second baseman James DiBiasio (Westlake). Sophomore outfielder Zach Frentsos (Delaware/Hayes) doubled home both runners to tie the game, and the Bishops took the lead when senior shortstop Logan Hronis (Rocky River/St. Edward) followed with a single to score Frentsos. One out later, Ruygrok blasted the Bishops' first home run of the season to increase the home team's lead to 5-2.

McComas doubled in a run in the fourth to make it 6-2, and Ruygrok's sacrifice fly in the fifth gave the Bishops a 7-2 lead.

Heidelberg pecked away at the deficit, getting a run in the sixth when Jason Lash led off with a single, took third on an errant pickoff attempt by freshman righthander Robbie Shane (Hilliard/Bishop Ready), and scored on Biagio Boytim's infield out.

The Student Princes made it 7-5 in the seventh, with Gar Keen's sacrifice fly and J.J. Ciennik's pinch-hit single plating the runs, and closed to within 7-6 when Derek Andrzejczak led off the eighth with a home run to centerfield.

Senior righthander Greg Vasami (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) got out of the eighth without any further damage, and freshman righthander Andrew Cox (Ashville/Teays Valley) retired Heidelberg in order in the ninth to post his second save of the season.

Ruygrok's 3 RBI paced the Bishop offense, with DiBiasio and Hronis collecting 2 hits apiece.

Freshman lefthander Mason Farr (West Lafayette, Ind.), the second of 5 Ohio Wesleyan pitchers, was credited with the win in relief.

Brian Koehl was the starting and losing pitcher for Heidelberg.

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