PHOTO GALLERY

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Fishbaugh Field was opened in style Tuesday afternoon to begin the home schedule for Otterbein Baseball, which blasted cross-town rival Capital by double digits in both games to start league play on a high note.

The Cardinals, winning both Roush Auto Rivalry Showdowns in run-rule fashion, prevailed by scores of 11-1 and 14-4 to sweep the Comets and gain initial possession of the new rivalry oar. Otterbein also launches Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play a smooth 2-0 on the chilly day.

GAME 1 RECAP:
Otterbein fell behind 1-0 early before soon finding their gear in the next inning. The Cards scored five times in the frame, beginning with a 2-RBI single from Brayden Carter and using a workmanlike approach from that point forward.

Carter added RBI knocks in the third and fifth, as lefty Nick Zorne completed five strong on the mound to improve to 3-0. He escaped a key bases-loaded jam (with one out) in the fifth, getting a swinging strikeout before shortstop Brayden Quincel made a remarkable play on a ball up the middle.

Otterbein literally walked it off in the seventh, as Noah Sprowls saw ball four with the bases loaded to get his team's cushion to double digits.

Carter hit 4 for 5 with six RBI while Ryan Mitchell and Jamie Perebzak each had three-hit performances. Jackson Peloquin pitched two scoreless in relief of Zorne to help take things home.


GAME 2 RECAP:
Things looked challenging as the Comets built a 4-0 lead and forced Otterbein into a quick pitching change.

Have no fear, though, as senior left-hander Travis Burson entered and limited Capital from that point forward with another brilliant relief effort. Otterbein stayed the course and eventually found a groove behind their emotional leader's performance on the mound, coming in a massive third inning…

The patient Cardinals worked pitch counts, forced the Comets into their bullpen and completely flipped momentum with a nine-run inning despite having just one hit in the sequence. Otterbein had five walks, two hit-by-pitches, a sacrifice fly and the exclamation point on a two-out grand slam from Carter over the right-field fence.

The lead would be more than enough for Burson, who chucked 6.2 scoreless innings while only scattering a pair of hits. He fanned nine Comets and issued just two free bases.

Another run-rule decision would come into play in the eighth, as Quincel slipped a 2-RBI double inside third base to promptly finish the day. Noah Sprowls hit a perfect 3 for 3, Sam Edgell hit safely (in both games) to extend his notable hitting streak to 20 games, and Carter racked up another five RBI's.

QUICK TURNAROUND:
Otterbein will get right back on its home field Wednesday afternoon, welcoming Adrian College for a single game at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs were in the national poll before recently falling out on Monday.