Tyler Schuch, making his first appearance on the mound this season, kept seventh-ranked Heidelberg hitless for 5.1 innings, leading Wooster to a key regional win.

WOOSTER, Ohio – Tyler Schuch pitched five-plus innings of no-hit ball and The College of Wooster put together another impressive offensive performance, as the No. 9 ranked Fighting Scots easily prevailed in a match-up of top-10 teams, 16-8 over No. 7 Heidelberg University, on Wednesday afternoon at a chilly and windy Art Murray Field.

Schuch, a sophomore right-hander making his first start of the season after throwing 14.0 innings last year, walked the first batter of the game, then proceeded to set down 15 in a row, including seven by strikeout.

With a 7-0 lead in hand, Schuch came out for the top of the sixth, walked the leadoff man, induced a fly out, and then, having made 82 pitches and gone through the order twice, was replaced.

Jacob Solomon gave Schuch an early lead to work with as he drove one the opposite way (right field) for a three-run homer in the bottom of the first, as Wooster (26-5) went on top 4-0.

The score remained that way until the fifth inning, when the Scots' Jamie Lackner stroked his NCAA Div. III-leading 14th home run this season, a solo shot that easily cleared the fence in right-center. John McLain followed with a double, and later in the inning, Wooster caught a break when Heidelberg (25-7) botched a tailor-made double play, resulting in two unearned runs and a 7-0 advantage.

Shortly after Schuch left the game, the 'Berg scratched one run across during the top of the sixth, only to see the Scots respond with a six-run frame. They loaded the bases without an out recorded, then McLain and Solomon each drove in one via a sacrifice fly and fielder's choice, respectively.

Wooster, though, was just getting started. With two outs, pinch hitter Drew Tornow legged out a double on a hit into left and Ryan Ostendorf sent one inside the right-field line that went all the way into the corner for a two-run triple. A third consecutive extra-base hit was provided by Kenny Reckart, who pulled a double deep into the right-center gap for another score, and after a walk, Joey Gilmore brought him around on a single into right-center that resulted in a 13-1 cushion, effectively sealing the outcome.

In addition to Schuch, whose final line read one run allowed on no hits and two walks in 5.1 innings, standing out for the Scots were Gilmore (2-for-4), Frank Vance (2-for-6), Lackner (2-for-5), Tornow (2-for-3), Ostendorf (2-for-4), and Reckart (2-for-4).

Wooster returns to North Coast Athletic Conference East Division play this weekend, hosting Oberlin College (11-20, 2-8 NCAC East) in a four-game series. Opening pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is set for noon.