Heideman's shutout helps Baseball to split against Luther

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Baseball team needed a big performance after dropping game one of a doubleheader against Luther College Sunday on the Arizona spring trip. Freshman pitcher Andrew Heideman delivered that performance helping the Falcons to an 8-0 game two win, salvaging a split with Norse.

Heideman (Bakersfield, Calif.) threw seven shutout innings, scattering seven hits and striking out five in his first career collegiate game. He also did not issue a walk in picking up the win.

The Falcons bats gave Heideman plenty of run support early, scoring four times in the first inning and twice in the second. Junior Joel Sharon (Glendale, Wis.) belted a two-run home run in the second, while junior Kyle Hegeman (New Berlin, Wis.) added a two-run shot of his own in top of the sixth inning.

CUW would plate four in the top first beginning with an RBI hit by pitch by freshman Bryan Thomas (Lowell, Ind.). Junior Alex Johnson (Belvidere, Ill.) added an RBI single in the frame, while sophomore Luke Scheuerlein (Thiensville, Wis.) recorded an RBI groundout.

Sharon and junior Brandon Seifert (Germantown, Wis.) each finished with three hits to pace the Falcons offense as the team totaled 10 in the second game. Those two and Hegeman each scored twice, providing production from the 2-3-4 spots in the batting order. Sophomore Jordan Mathiebe (Brillion, Wis.) added a triple for CUW.

In the opening game, poor defense put the Falcons in an early hole they couldn't recover from as Luther rolled to the 12-2 win. CUW allowed six unearned runs in the second inning after building a 2-0 lead after one. The Falcons totaled six errors in the opening contest.

Sharon was the pitcher of record despite allowing zero earned runs over five innings of work. He struck out five and gave up six hits, while walking two. He helped his cause at the plate, delivering an RBI triple in the first inning, scoring leadoff man, senior Taylor Buuck (Hillsboro, Ore.).

The big hit of the six-run second inning for Luther came off the bat of Czenvic Rojer as he cleared the bases with a three-RBI double. Rojer and leadoff batter Andy Briggs each drove home four runs in game one.

CUW (2-2) has Monday off before returning to action Tuesday against Williams. The Falcons and Ephs will play a doubleheader beginning at 9 a.m. CST.