Heidelberg plated five runs in the top of the ninth to erase a two-run deficit and hand Denison a 9-6 loss in its home opener from Granville on Tuesday.

The Big Red took the early lead when an RBI single by Kyle Clemmenson and a sacrifice fly to center by Justin Vaske gave DU a 2-0 edge after one inning.  A single by Eric Monroe to left field in the fourth scored Elvin Williams Jr. and cut the deficit in half.

The 'Berg took its first lead of the game after scoring three runs in the fifth inning.  Arneal Squibb knocked in a pair with a base hit through the right side.  The third run came across on a double play ball hit by Steven Kisan.   In the bottom of the frame, the Big Red shrunk the margin to one when a single up the middle by Vaske scored Danny Kraus.

Denison regained the lead in the sixth frame.  After Evan Nicholson hit a leadoff single, a double down the left field line by senior Dave Holmes plated Nicholson.  Following a sacrifice bunt that moved Holmes to third, Drew Rice singled in the senior to give DU a one-run lead.  Kraus added an insurance run with a base hit to shallow right that plated Rice from second.

Heidelberg's Trevor Oldham reached on a bunt and advanced to second on an error to open the ninth.  After a ground out to third, Alex Grove and Joe Chiarappa were both hit by pitches.  With the bases loaded, Ross Pruitt dropped a single into right that scored a pair.

With the game tied at 6-6 in the ninth, Denison junior Philip Seay took the mound.  Seay intentionally walk his first batter, and issued another free pass to Squibb that  scored the go-ahead run   The Student Princes added two more runs on a single by Kisan and a sacrifice fly by Ben Blystone.

Despite a one-out double by Vaske in the bottom of the ninth, Heidelberg reliever Daniel Brannum notched back-to-back strikeouts to secure the three-run victory.

Senior Andrew Mahle went a perfect 4-for-4 with a run scored, while Kraus was 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.  Vaske finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Nicholson also had two singles and a run scored.

Senior starter Tyler Vaske suffered the loss after allowing eight runs on nine hits in 8.1 innings.  Vaske struck out three, walked one and hit three batters.  Brannum picked up the win after scattering three hits and striking out five in 3.1 innings out of the bullpen.  Heidelberg starter Bryan Peters went five innings, and allowed four runs on seven hits in the no decision.

Chiarappa, Pruitt, and Monroe all had multiple hit outings, while Squibb drove in three runs.  Pruitt also knocked in a pair and scored twice.

Denison falls to 5-8, while Heidelberg improves to 8-6.  The Big Red returns to action on Wednesday when they travel to Capital for a 4 p.m. start.