CHILLICOTHE, OHIO – Manchester University provided a potent plate attack during a three-game set against Ohio Athletic Conference power Heidelberg University and University Athletic Association standout Case Western Reserve Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27 and 28.

The Spartans, claiming a 19-10 win in the weekend opener inside VA Memorial Stadium over the Student Princes of HU before dropping a pair of slugfests against the Spartans of CWRU 19-12 and 13-5, ended up with astronomical team numbers that included a .347 batting average, .595 slugging percentage and .457 on-base percentage.

A quartet of sophomore outfielder Eric Knepper (Bremen, Ind.), junior outfielder Chad Schultz (Fair Oaks, Ind.), junior outfielder Braydin Stell (Huntington, Ind.) and junior first baseman Tailur Szarenski (Bluffton, Ind.) topped the individual efforts. Knepper launched a grand slam in the win over Heidelberg as part of a five-hit, four-run scored, six-RBI span; Schultz made the most of his first regular appearance in the starting line-up by pounding a pair of doubles among five hits while scoring three runs and driving in six; Stell led the power numbers booming two home runs and two doubles to go with six runs scored and four RBIs, and Szarenski ended with two doubles, five runs scored, two RBIs and six hits.

MU's pitching staff was guided by sophomore starter Taylor Kopplin (Westport, Ind.). He earned the win over Heidelberg going six and two-thirds solid frames where he gave up only two earned runs and struck out four. Junior Cory Ferguson (Fort Wayne, Ind.) fired a staff-best six Ks for the weekend as part of a four and a third inning start in the two-day finale.

Coach Rick Espeset's squad resumes its non-conference schedule Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6. They take North Coast Athletic Conference member DePauw University at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind.