GAME PHOTOS
SENIOR DAY PHOTOS

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinal baseball program finished off a roundabout stretch of action with cross-town rival Capital Sunday at Fishbaugh Field, sweeping the Crusaders on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to win the weekend series.

SATURDAY (L 2-1, W 16-5)
Otterbein ace Collin Hoffmann found himself in another low-scoring pitcher's dual in the opener at Clowson Field, matched up with sophomore right-hander Tucker Craft of the Crusaders…

Capital struck first with a pair of runs in the second, initially using a single-stolen base-single sequence before crossing an unearned run after a Cardinal fielding error. Craft was perfect through four, but Jamie Perebzak changed that with a leadoff home run to begin the fifth.

The Cardinals saw ample chances throughout, advancing runners into scoring position multiple times but somehow never being able to draw even or pull ahead. Craft went the distance for the home team while Hoffmann was forced to take the loss, despite allowing just four hits the entire game.

The rematch was a different story, as the Cardinals exploded for six runs in the first frame to knock Capital starter Brennon Newell out of the contest. By the end, Otterbein had sent 11 batters to the plate.

Capital got three back in the third despite not actually getting a hit. Four batters walked and another was hit by a pitch.

However, Otterbein senior left-hander Nicky Zorne entered and threw six fairly dominant middle innings to keep the opposition stymied. He would eventually earn the win, allowing just two hits over the entire stretch.

Otterbein delivered another six-run frame in the sixth, and then four more insurance runs in the ninth en route to the victory. Six players tallied multi-hit games while Perebzak, Zach Franz and Adam Stotler each had three RBI.


SUNDAY (W 14-4, W 9-8)
Otterbein fell behind early, but soon led 4-3 after another sequence involving Franz in the second… and then a two-run homer from Luke Barber in the third.

The game was then tied 4-4 before the Cards flew away, scoring multiple runs in each of the next four innings to post a run-rule triumph by the eighth. Noah Sprowls had an extra-base knock in the fifth, and Ryan Mitchell registered a pair of triples in the later innings.

Seven different Cardinals enjoyed multi-hit games. On the mound, Travis Engard earned the win and classmate Travis Burson went the final three scoreless for a save.

Capital led 4-0 to begin the finale, but Otterbein split that deficit in half and then jumped ahead with five runs in the fourth inning. Matthew Gibson and Brayden Carter each roped an RBI-double during the push.

A pesky Capital squad made things difficult down the stretch, crossing four in the top of the eighth to deadlock the score at 8-8. Nevertheless, three Otterbein batters were all plunked in the bottom half (sandwiched around a sac bunt from Carter) to get the go-ahead run on third…

Perebzak manufactured the winning run, poking a ball to left field that was deep enough to bring home Stotler on the sacrifice fly. Senior Nick "Tuna" Meyer went 1-2-3 on the hill in the ninth to shut it down.

Afterward, Otterbein recognized a program record 20 members of its senior/grad class for all of their contributions since arrival. The group has experienced multiple OAC championships and NCAA appearances.