Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TIFFIN, Ohio – The Otterbein baseball team picked up another pair of important conference wins Monday afternoon on the road, sweeping a doubleheader with host Heidelberg University by scores of 3-2 and 6-5, the latter being in extra innings.

The game-one victory clinched a spot in the upcoming Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament for the Cardinals, who improved to 27-7 on the season and 12-4 within league play. Only the top four teams advance to the postseason event.

Game one featured a nice pitching battle between Cardinal right-hander Robert Kemer and Heidelberg's Adam Manner, with neither team scoring until the fourth inning. The Cards did all of their scoring in that frame, getting a 2-RBI single from catcher Stephan Hernon followed by an RBI-single up the middle from right fielder J.C. Gibson.

The Student Princes (16-22, 5-11 OAC) got a run back in the sixth courtesy of an RBI-single from standout Derek Hug, and then made it a one-run game by cutting the gap to 3-2 in the seventh inning.

The Otterbein bullpen would take it from there, with senior Jordon Mally coming on midway through the seventh, and then also pitching a scoreless eighth before getting the ball to junior closer Caleb Norton, who earned his fifth save of the spring by quickly retiring Heidelberg in order.

Gibson went 2 for 3 in the game while Kemer stayed perfect on the mound, improving his record to 5-0 by striking out nine batters and walking none over 6.1 innings. Only one of his two runs were earned.

Otterbein jumped ahead in the rematch with a four-run third inning, scoring on an RBI-single from Taylor Hutchison, a throwing error after a Mark Walton infield hit, and then a 2-RBI double from Tyler Kent down the left-field line.

The Cards later held a 5-1 lead in the seventh inning after a solo homer from catcher Stephan Hernon, but Heidelberg responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning during a two-out rally. The Student Princes got an initial RBI-single before a timely 2-RBI triple from Hug, who scored on the same sequence after a throwing miscue.

Otterbein was in a bit of trouble during the bottom of the eighth when Heidelberg loaded the bases, but lefty Stevie Yuran entered in relief to get a groundout and escape the jam.

The Cards eventually got a leadoff double from shortstop Ben Beachy to begin the top of the 10th, but pinch runner Dom Guzzi was thrown out on a close play at the plate after a single to left field from Hutchison, who advanced to second on the throw. Otterbein quickly regrouped, getting the go-ahead RBI-single off the bat of third baseman Mark Walton that ultimately proved to be the difference.

Norton came on yet again in the bottom of the tenth, working around a bloop single that opened the inning to earn his second save of the day. He has a team-leading 1.54 E.R.A over 18 appearances this season.

Hutchison, Walton, Beachy and Hernon all registered multi-hit games in the second affair and Otterbein left 13 Heidelberg runners on base defensively. Yuran (2-2) was credited with the win as the pitching staff now boasts a team E.R.A of just 3.47.

Otterbein will be right back in action tomorrow afternoon, hosting the first of a home-and-home series with the College of Wooster at 4 p.m. The teams are then scheduled to play a rematch come Wednesday at Wooster.