TIFFIN, Ohio – Sunday afternoon presented the Otterbein baseball club a pair opportunities to get back in the win column after a frustrating defeat but, unfortunately, the Cardinals dropped two tightly-contested games at Peaceful Valley against host Heidelberg.

GAME ONE (L 14-10):
Otterbein held an early 3-0 lead, using a 2-RBI double from Jamie Perebzak in the first and then another RBI base knock courtesy of Ryan Mitchell in the third. Heidelberg settled in and ultimately grabbed a 5-4 lead, thanks for a pair of home runs from catcher Marc Ochoa.

The see-saw battle then saw Otterbein leap back ahead at 7-5 in the top of the sixth. Adam Stotler doubled down the right-field line to bring around Gino Pierro, and ensuing base hits from Dmitri Collaros and Luke Barber regained nice momentum for the Cards.

Heidelberg countered again as the contest encountered deadlocks of 7-7- and 8-8, before the Cardinals fell behind 9-8 after seven completed. Perebzak appeared as though he may have tied the game with a solo blast in the eighth, but it ended up being the third out after getting robbed at the left-field wall by defensive replacement Stephen Currie (not the NBA all-star).

The Student Princes used that energy and pulled away in the bottom half, finding a groove to score five times and never trail again. Otterbein didn't quit and made things interesting in the ninth, receiving RBI-singles from Will Johnson and Brayden Carter before the final push stalled out.

The opener featured a combined 32 hits, including multi-hit outings by Pierro (3), Collaros (3), Carter, Barber, Perebzak and Mitchell. Starting pitcher Travis Engard only allowed two earned runs on the hill over five innings before taking a no-decision.

GAME TWO (L 6-4):
Heidelberg carried momentum over into the rematch, exploding for five hits (three going for extra bases) and five runs in its first plate appearance.

The Cardinals eventually gathered themselves and began chipping away over the long game. Otterbein got three back in the fourth inning with a nice two-out rally, beginning with a double from Mitchell and then a base hit from Zach Franz, and consecutive walks by Pierro and Stotler.

Heidelberg made a pitching change during the sequence and stayed in front at 5-3. Both sides traded runs over the next couple innings, which saw an RBI poke from Will Johnson and a solo homer off the bat of Eric DeVore on the home side.

Otterbein got runners on the corners with just one out in the ninth, bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate before a pair of fly balls were corralled.

Johnson (two hits and two walks) reached base four times in the contest while Barber also had a multi-hit showing. The Cards out-hit the Student Princes again, but left 10 runners stranded.

MOVING FORWARD:
Otterbein will have more than a full week off to tackle final exams and then enjoy graduation weekend. The Cards are scheduled for a return to the diamond come Monday, May 3 when nationally-ranked and league-leading Marietta comes to town.