Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein University baseball recorded a doubleheader split Friday afternoon at Fishbaugh Field, topping Ohio Northern University 5-1 before falling 9-6 in Ohio Athletic Conference action.
The Cardinals (16-10, 3-3 OAC) tallied a run in the first inning of game one when freshman Billy Harkenrider scored on a wild pitch, but Ohio Northern (8-13, 2-3 OAC) drew even in the next frame after a balk was called on Otterbein starter Dustin Reuter.
Otterbein bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the inning, using an RBI-single from Jimmy Waterwash and a fielder’s choice RBI from Harkenrider three batters later.
Reuter settled in on the mound, allowing just two more hits the remainder of the game and getting two more runs of support en route to his sixth victory of the season. Reuter struck out six batters while only walking two.
Harkenrider turned in an impressive opening game, going 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI and one run scored. Freshman AJ Finlay hit 2 for 3 and scored two runs.
The Polar Bears managed two runs early in game two off Otterbein starter David Cydrus, only to see the Cards claw back with one run in each the second and third innings.
A solo homer from Ohio Northern’s Matt Holstein put the visitors back on top at 3-2, and the Polar Bears later countered another Otterbein run by grabbing a 4-3 edge midway through the fifth frame.
The Cardinals answered with a Harkenrider home run to lead off the bottom of the inning, and followed with three-straight batters reaching safely before the inning stalled.
Otterbein took a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning, but ONU recorded two of its own in the eighth to vault ahead 7-5.
A Thomas Linder sacrifice fly brought the deficit to 7-6 in the eighth, but two more Polar Bear runs in the ninth pushed the margin to 9-6.
The Cardinals drew three-consecutive two-out walks in their last at-bat to load the bases, but Harkenrider would strike out to end the game.
Both Harkenrider and junior catcher Wes Meadows registered two hits in the second game, combining for three RBIs.
Otterbein resumes conference play next Wednesday, April 11 when it travels to Wilmington for a 1p.m. doubleheader.
