Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Otterbein University baseball team launched its season in positive fashion over the weekend, beginning the annual spring trip with four-straight wins at the RussMatt Invitational.

The Cardinals opened the schedule with a 6-1 victory over Augustana College (Ill.), a 30-win team last season that won the CCIW and made the NCAA Tournament.

Augustana, entering the game with a 4-0 record, eventually broke a scoreless tie in the top of fifth on a two-out single that scored a runner from third. The Cardinals answered right back in the bottom of the inning on a two-out single of their own, posting two runs when Mitch Stotler delivered a timely hit down the right-field line that plated Brock Frentzel and Nick Wiseman.

Otterbein added to the lead on an RBI-single from Christian Chiero in the next frame and turned things over in the eighth to All-OAC closer Caleb Norton, who induced a quick flyout and then received three insurance runs from the Cardinal offense shortly thereafter. He would later sit down the Vikings, in order, during the ninth.

Junior Craig Prince was impressive in his 2017 debut on the hill, allowing just one earned run and five hits over 7.2 innings of work.

"It was a fun day," Prince said with a smile. "It can be nerve-wracking at first because it's a new season and we waited so long to get back on the field, but I thought everyone settled in after a few innings. Augustana was tough to get out and it was a team effort to keep them limited. They were tough two-strike hitters and the defense played well behind me."

Otterbein then turned around to blitz Franklin College (Ind.) by a score of 16-0, scoring 10 runs by the middle of the fourth and watching junior Stevie Yuran do the rest on the mound. The left-hander fanned 10 Grizzlies over five scoreless innings before newcomers Sam Hardin and Cody Goletz helped maintain the shutout.

Stotler went 4 for 5 in the game and finished day one a combined 6 for 8 with four RBI. Wiseman and third baseman Connor Brett had three-hit games while Frentzel had a pair of hits, one being a towering home run to straightaway center.

"Our pitching staff is really solid," Prince added. "I think we'll see more of what we have later in the trip because we might have to piece a few games together. At the moment, everyone is doing their part and ready to take control when their name is called."

Otterbein then swept a doubleheader with a challenging Alma College (28-15 last season) team Sunday afternoon, coming from behind in both games to win 7-3 and 6-3.

The Scots built an early 3-0 lead before Otterbein erupted for five runs in the fifth inning, which featured the Cardinals drawing three walks, getting hit by a pitch, scoring on a wild pitch, manufacturing an RBI groundout and then jumping ahead on RBI doubles from Brett and catcher Stephan Hernon.

The lead would be enough for freshman Collin Hoffman, who struck out six batters and did not allow a run over the final four innings in relief of starter Jaryd Murphy. All three of Murphy's runs on the day were unearned.

Wiseman went 2 for 2 with a walk out of the eighth spot, ripping a triple late in the game and also scoring two runs. Shortstop Ben Beachy went 2 for 3 at the plate.

Game two featured  a similar script, with the Scots finding themselves ahead 3-1 entering the sixth inning until Otterbein strung together another five-run rally to stun their opponent. The scoring sequences began when Hernon stole third base and then scored moments later on a fielder's choice dribbler to the Alma pitcher, who charged in and made an errant throw home.
Otterbein applied pressure from there, getting a game-tying RBI single from Frentzel and forcing Alma to its bullpen.

The inning reached its peak with an intense two-out at-bat from Beachy, who faced a full count with the bases loaded and ultimately delivered a difference-making double over the right fielder's head that brought home all three runners.

"Two outs, bases loaded, late innings… I just had to find a way and get the job done," Beachy said afterwards. "I walked into the box knowing I'd need to sit on the fastball, because he's a left-handed pitcher who had some tail. I saw more fastballs as the at-bat went on and got comfortable with his movement and patterns. I tried to stay short on my swing and eventually got ahold of one."

That play turned the game over to Norton, who allowed just one baserunner and no hits over the final two innings en route to his second save of the young season. Otterbein stole seven bases in the game and had six different players record a hit, led by Frentzel going 2 for 2 with a walk.

"As time goes on, I think we'll become really hard to get out because we have guys that put the ball in play and keep applying pressure," Beachy said. "This group should keep getting better and you can see that playing out within games or even certain innings. We don't want to make a habit out of always playing from behind, but good teams keep grinding and finds ways to pull through."

Sophomore Johnny Putnam picked up his first-career win on the mound with a gutty effort, fighting through some challenging spots to strike out seven batters and surrender just two earned runs in five innings. He ended four of his five innings with swinging strikeouts.

Otterbein will now have three days off from varsity competition before returning to the field on Thursday, taking on Neumann University at 12:30 p.m. The Knights hail from Aston Township, Pa. and went 20-19 last season.