PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The Otterbein baseball team opened its annual spring-break trip to Florida over the weekend at the Snowbird Classic, going 1-2 against very strong competition inside North Charlotte Regional Park.

The Cardinals, now 3-2 overall, opened with a heartbreaking loss in extra-innings to Misericordia (Pa.) on Saturday but rebounded to beat Mitchell College in nightcap. Both games lasted over three hours.

Otterbein then returned to on Sunday for one game against No. 18-ranked North Central, falling behind early and suffering a disappointing defeat.

Misericordia (7-6 Loss, 10 innings):

A dynamite pitching matchup commenced the trip as Otterbein standout Collin Hoffmann was pitted against Misericordia ace Ian McCole, the reigning MAC Freedom Pitcher of the Year. The Cougars manufactured a few early runs through various routes, opening a 3-0 lead after a bloop single, fielder's choice sequence on a ground ball and then a wild pitch with a close call at the plate.

Otterbein stayed the course and countered with a pair of timely two-out runs in the fifth, coming on consecutive RBI-doubles from Brayden Carter and Dmitri Collaros down the right-field line. Misericordia got both runs back in the bottom of the frame, flipping the script with two doubles itself for a 5-2 lead.

The Cards didn't waver, opening the sixth inning with a solo home run from Sam Edgell and then knotting the score, 5-5, on a critical 2-RBI single from Carter. The sophomore third baseman, who transferred in from Findlay this offseason, finished the game 3 for 4 with four RBI.

Lefty reliever Nicky Zorne, an Ashland transfer, pitched admirably in his first appearance to keep the Cougars at bay in the middle frames. Misericordia did get one in the seventh before Otterbein responded once more, knotting the game at 6-6 in the eighth.

Shortstop Zak Repar made a impressive play up the middle in the ninth to throw out a runner, helping send the tightly-contested matchup to extra innings. Misericordia, a frequent NCAA team that has now played five one-run games this season, ended up with the final punch on a walk-off double, with two outs, in the tenth.

Both sides tallied 10 hits in the game, which also saw 19 total strikeouts and the Cards leave nine runners on base. Misericordia's Sean Boylan, who moved from shortstop to the mound late in the game, earned the pitching win.

Mitchell (7-2 Win):

Otterbein had a quick 40-minute turnaround while switching fields at the complex, and fell into a 2-0 deficit against Mitchell (Conn.) during a very chilly evening. The Cards eventually settled in and jumped ahead in the fifth, beginning when Repar scored on a wild pitch.

Otterbein then carried that sequence into RBI hits from Collaros and Luke Barber, followed by Ryan Mitchell drawing  walk with the bases loaded. That run support would be enough for the combination of starting pitcher Ethan Doty and reliever Cody Goletz, who allowed just four combined hits on the night.

Doty went five strong innings for the win, while Goletz struck out seven batters and allowed just one hits across the final four to warrant a save. Barber, Collaros, Repar and catcher Adam Stotler all contributed multi-hit games, with Stotler also walking twice to reach base four times.

North Central (10-0 Loss):

NCC, which fell one game shy of the NCAA Division III World Series last year, got to the Otterbein pitching staff very early in opening a 7-0 lead after two innings. Otterbein made good contact at the plate throughout but North Central was in the right spots defensively, none more apparent than in the fourth inning.

Otterbein, still down 7-0, loaded the bases with no outs and appeared to have a little momentum going. Unfortunately, a Zak Repar line drive was roped right into the glove of the North Central third baseman, who promptly stepped on the bag for an unassisted double play. The Cards would come up empty in the next at bat.

Otterbein hung tough the remainder of the way while working in various arms, including sophomore pitcher Eric Aufderbeck making his first varsity appearance after missing all of last season. He has endured six open-heart surgeries throughout his life, the last of which coming just prior to his freshman year of college. Aufderbeck pitched three fairly solid innings.

The Tan and Cardinal left another 10 on base throughout the contest. Barber went 2 for 3 at the plate.
 
UP NEXT:

Otterbein will now play seven games at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers, starting on Monday with outings against Alvernia and Thiel.