PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - It was neither a stifling performance nor a work of art.
But Heidelberg starting pitcher Tyler Fruhwirth was brilliant when he needed to be Wednesday against Bluffton, throwing his first complete game and stranding 11 runners as Heidelberg nipped Bluffton, 5-4.
Heidelberg, ranked 12th in Division III, improved to 3-2.
Fruhwirth allowed 14 hits, eight more than his own hitters recorded. But he struck out seven and walked only one while being charged with four runs over nine innings.
Bluffton and the Student Princes were knotted at four in the seventh inning when freshman second baseman Steven Kisan singled to lead off. He stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.
Kisan scored when Bluffton catcher Greg Franks was charged with an error.
That proved to be the difference, as the Beavers fell to 2-3.
Ross Pruitt had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for Heidelberg, while Elvin Williams scored and drove in a run.
Fruhwirth is 1-0 this season.
