BLUFFTON, Ohio – Another shootout was on the horizon Thursday afternoon in non-conference action for the Otterbein baseball team, which kept the hot bats rolling to outlast host Bluffton in a 16-12 slugfest at Memorial Field.

The Beavers opened a 6-0 lead after three innings before Otterbein erupted in the fourth, scoring nine runs to jump ahead and never trail again.

Sam Edgell, the reigning OAC Hitter of the Week, was hit by a pitch to begin the frame and Noah Sprowls then reached on a fielding errors. Multiple hits ensued, including RBI-doubles from Matthew Gibson and Brayden Carter to help keep the merry-go-round in process. By the time it was said and done, the Cards had sent 13 batters to the plate.

Both sides traded multiple runs over the next couple at-bats, with Otterbein clinging to a 14-12 lead after a sixth inning that saw Brayden Quincel go yard. The Cards added two insurance runs in the seventh, coming through an RBI-single from Logan Ullom and speedster Ryan Grant reaching on an error by the pitcher… which allowed Gibson to scamper home.

Otterbein out-hit Bluffton by a final margin of 19-8, with Quincel's 4 for 6 effort leading the charge. Carter, Gibson and Grant each hit safely three times while Edgell moved his streak to 15 games… or 18 if you include the last three of his sophomore year before the shutdown (and his injury).

Travis Burson was rock solid en route to notching his second save, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings to finish the game while striking out five.

The Cardinals, now 10-5 overall, will gear up for the beginning of Ohio Athletic Conference play this weekend as cross-town rival Capital is set to visit Fishbaugh Field. The home opener is currently scheduled for Saturday, although incoming weather could force to Sunday or beyond.

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