Written April 17, 2010 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein concluded its six-game homestand Saturday afternoon by splitting a pair of games with Mount Union at Fishbaugh Field, taking a 9-7 victory in game one before falling 12-9 in game two.
The team finishes the week with a 3-3 record, sweeping Wilmington on Tuesday but falling to Rio Grande and Witternerg Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
The Cards now stand at 14-9 overall and 6-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
The Raiders move to 5-5 in league play and 14-11 on the season.
Otterbein took control of game one early, getting a three-run homer in the first inning from senior Brian Hiscox, his eighth of the season and 41st of his career. He now stands one shy of tying for second-place all-time in the OAC.
The Cards pushed the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the second on a solo home-run from junior Clayton Clever, but the Raiders responded to tie the game at 4-4 in the next inning.
With one out and runners on second and third, designated hitter Adam Becker stepped to the dish in the bottom of the fifth. Becker checked his swing on a pitch in the dirt, and was called out by the home-plate umpire.
With Becker in the dugout, the Cardinals appealed the call and saw it overturned, allowing Becker to stroll back up to the plate. The Edon native then singled through the right-side, bringing home both base-runners, this eventually helping OC on its way to a four-run inning.
Junior John LaCorte was able to get out of a jam in the sixth inning, and sophomore Dustin Reuter overcame allowing a two-run homer in the seventh to get three outs and preserve the victory.
LaCorte surrendered five earned runs in six innings to improve to 7-0 on the hill this season.
Game two saw the Cards grab a 4-2 lead through the first four innings, and extend the advantage to 7-2 by adding three more runs in the bottom of the fifth.
However, Mount would post ten runs over the next three innings, including a grand slam from junior Dan Henderson, en route to taking a 12-7 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.
In the bottom of the eighth, Hiscox stepped to the plate with two outs and runners on second and third. A ground ball to the left side appeared to be enough to end the inning, but a throwing error allowed Hiscox to reach and both runs to cross the plate, cutting the deficit to 12-9.
Otterbein was able to get two runners aboard with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, but the next three hitters were retired as Mount would take the 12-9 victory.
Junior Elliot Greenhill hit a perfect 3-for-3 in the second game, including a towering shot over the right-field fence in the second inning.
