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FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Otterbein baseball team currently sits 3-1 after the initial portion of its spring trip at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic, racking up wins over Plymouth State, Hiram and Haverford inside the historic Terry Park.

The Cardinals, now 4-2 on the season as a whole, will have some time to regroup before getting back on the varsity diamond Thursday morning. Here's what took place over the weekend and into the exciting finish Monday around lunch…

Saturday vs. Plymouth State (W 7-1, L 4-1):
Otterbein took game one behind a dominant pitching effort from leading arm Travis Engard, who struck out 10 Panthers in going the distance. The Cardinals batted around in the opening frame with RBI from Jamie Perebzak, Noah Sprowls and Matthew Gibson on a sac fly…

That output would be more than enough for Engard (2-0), who absolutely cruised by allowing just three hits and one unearned run moving forward. Seven different Cardinals scored a run in the game.

The Cards appeared ready to chase Plymouth's game-two starter Trey Parker out early… loading the bases with no outs to begin the nightcap. However, Parker induced a double-play groundout and then corralled the third out himself to regain encouragement.

Griffin Crane delivered a 2-RBI single through the right side to vault Plymouth ahead in the first, and Otterbein's offense couldn't muster a ton in leaving eight runners on base in the condensed, seven-inning game.

Travis Burson provided a valiant relief effort by fanning seven over 4.2 innings, while Ashton Spurgeon looked sharp with another two K's in the seventh. Sprowls and leadoff man Brayden Carter hit a combined 5 for 7.

Sunday vs. Hiram (W 11-6):
Otterbein used a similar script in capturing early momentum against the Terrier, plating another four in its first at-bat thanks to a Perebzak double, sac-fly off the bat of Zak Repar and fielder's choice RBI from Ryan Mitchell.

Luke Barber homered in the third, but a pesky Hiram lineup stayed the course and actually grabbed a 6-5 lead entering the sixth. The Cardinals regained momentum from there, kickstarted by a towering two-run homer from Sam Edgell that easily cleared the right-field fence…

Otterbein added four more in the seventh while taking advantage of some Hiram miscues. The gap would be comfortable for left-handed reliver Nicky Zorne, who was lights out with six K's (and just two hits allowed) over four full.

Logan Weber went five for a victory on the hill as Carter enjoyed a three-hit day at the top of the order.

Monday vs. Haverford (W 6-4):
The clash between two schools with annual NCAA Tournament expectations settled into an old-fashioned pitching dual between Josh Fuller (Haverford) and Otterbein's Jackson Peloquin, making his first college start.

Fuller retired the first 10 Cardinals and Peloquin used three double-play groundouts to remain intact, with the only blemish coming on a wild pitch in the second where Haverford took a 1-0 lead.

Otterbein kept grinding and worked pitch counts, ultimately leaping in front on a 2-RBI single (with two outs) from Carter in the seventh. The Cards then opened a 5-1 edge in the eighth on a sequence that saw four timely singles…

Freshman catcher Sam Roy's 2-RBI knock proved to be the biggest, as the recent defensive sub worked a lengthy at-bat in his lone plate appearance before dropping a ball into right-center. Haverford struck a rally to keep things very interesting in the bottom half, scoring three times and inching back to a one-run game.

The Cards found an insurance run in the ninth and then finished the job behind lefty transfer Ashton Spurgeon, who tossed the final four outs for a save. His effort was benefited mightily by an acrobatic, potential game-saving catch by centerfielder Ryan Mitchell with one out and the tying run at the dish.

Peloquin went 6.2 strong on the bump for his first-career victory. Carter had yet another multi-hit performance and is now batting .481 so far this young season.

UP NEXT:
The Cardinals will have a JV game on Tuesday (against Thiel) and will get Wednesday off to relax/regroup. Action will relaunch come Thursday morning with a doubleheader against Saint Elizabeth.