FT. MYERS, Fla. -- Heidelberg narrowly missed setting several conference and NCAA Division III records Friday, pounding out 38 hits to defeat Northland College 37-2 on a breezy Friday morning at the Players Development Complex.
The 38 hits were one shy of tying the OAC record, set by Marietta in 2000. The Student Princes had 63 at-bats, three shy of Marietta's OAC record and five shy of the NCAA Division III record of 68 set by Rose-Hulman in 1995.
All in all, 18 Heidelberg batters had at least one hit, including 13 multi-hit performances. Eighteen players scored and 14 drove in at least one run as head coach Matt Palm removed all of his starting position players by the fifth inning.
The Student Princes (4-2) scored nine runs in two separate innings and eight in another and seven more in yet another.
Arneal Squibb highlighted a nine-run third inning with a three-run triple, plating Adam Hershberger, Andrew Zenczak and Staab.
Palm began substituting hitters during the nine-run fifth inning. Austin Fleming's first at bat of the season yielded an RBI triple to right center. Christian Verde plated Fleming with a line-drive single to center.
Fleming's triple was the 12th of the season for the Tricolor. Heidelberg recorded 10 triples in all of 2013.
The reserves continued to hit in the sixth, adding seven more runs. Doug Miller knocked in a run with a double down the right field line.
Lost in the parade of Student Princes on the basepaths were strong pitching performances from starter Chris Thomas and reliever Nick Reiter. Thomas threw six innings, scattering three hits and issuing six strikeouts. The win was his first decision since the Florida trip a year ago.
"I thought our guys did a good job of staying focused," said Palm. "Even with the game in hand, our reserves came in and continued to give us good plate appearances.
Northland (0-8) got on the board with a run off of reliever Karl Boedecker in the seventh. Jake Smith doubled to left, scoring Dan Kollauf.
Fleming, Verde, TJ Harkness and Travis Gray all doubled in an eight-run seventh.
The Lumberjacks added a run in the eighth on a fielder's choice.
Reiter retired the Lumberjacks in order in the ninth.
