Sean Karpen

Sean Kapren (Venetia, Pa. / Peters Twp.) belted a solo home run off of Heidelberg University's top pitcher in the eighth inning for a 5-4 lead and Mark Miller (Convoy, Ohio / Crestview) closed out The College of Wooster's one-run comeback win in a battle between the top-two ranked teams in the NCAA Div. III Mideast Region Thursday afternoon at Tiffin, Ohio.

Wooster entered the game No. 2 in the Mideast and Heidelberg No. 1 as the initial set of NCAA regional polls for the 2009 season were released earlier Thursday.

The 'Berg (26-7) led 4-2 going into the sixth inning, but that frame Matt Groezinger (Columbus, Ohio / Upper Arlington) evened things for Wooster (29-7) with a two-run homer. It marked the third-straight game he has homered.

Justin McDowell (Willard, Ohio / Willard) then took over on the mound for the Fighting Scots and set Heidelberg down 1-2-3 in both the sixth and seventh innings.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Karpen deposited an Andy Lowe pitch over the wall for his third round-tripper in four games. Lowe, who came in with a 0.51 ERA through 35.1 innings, had only allowed two extra-base hits – both doubles – this spring.

McDowell worked one more inning, getting out of a slight jam in the bottom of the eighth, and after a scoreless top of the ninth, Miller entered. He gave up a two-out walk, but forced the 'Berg's No. 3 hitter into a game-ending grounder to second for his 23rd career save.

Wooster had scored twice in the first inning. After a leadoff walk to Karpen, John Warren (New Castle, Pa. / Union Area) immediately brought him in with his 10th double of the year. Warren also would score.

Heidelberg used the long ball to take the lead, as Matt Grassley hit a solo shot as part of a two-run third and Gar Keen blasted a two-run home run in the fifth.

McDowell faced just two batters over the minimum during three scoreless innings of relief to earn the win (6-2), which marks his second in as many games for the Scots.

Offensively, Warren accounted for two of Wooster's six hits on the day, going 2-for-4, while the Berg's No. 2 hitter, Jason Lash, also went 2-for-4.

The Scots' next scheduled action is on Sunday when Muskingum College (18-14) visits at 1 p.m.