PHOTO GALLERIES

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – With postseason implications on the docket for the last day of April, Otterbein met the task in a big way Saturday afternoon with a resounding sweep over John Carroll by counts of 14-1 and 9-3 at Fishbaugh Field.

The Cardinals broke out the bats nicely over both games, moving to 12-4 within Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play and clinching a spot in the upcoming league tournament. The top-four teams will eventually travel to Marietta come May 12-15, as the Pioneers clinched the regular-season title with a sweep over Baldwin Wallace.

Otterbein still has to play No. 1-ranked Marietta next Friday, but will likely be no worse than the third seed after the final round of action shakes out. SEE FULL OAC STANDINGS HERE.

GAME ONE (W 14-1):
The Cardinals (after waiting through an hour rain delay to begin) got to OAC strikeout leader Mitchell Midea early, scoring five runs over the initial three frames and never looking back. Brayden Quincel ripped an opposite-field homer in the second inning, sandwiched between RBI pokes from Sam Edgell and Noah Sprowls in the early action.

JCU went to its bullpen… but Otterbein continued adding to its lead while right-hander Travis Engard remained sharp on the hill. The Cards (ahead 5-1) blew the game open after the seventh-inning stretch with a furious two-out rally.

Three-straight hitters reached base before Jamie Perebzak launched a grand slam down the left-field line on a ball that likely won't land until Monday. Otterbein stayed on the gas pedal as five more hitters would reach base… eventually blowing open an 11-1 ballgame.

The Cards added three more insurance runs in the eighth. Engard went 6.2 strong on the mound, allowing just one run while fanning five Blue Streaks. He now holds a 4-0 record and looks sharp after his return from injury.

Otterbein smacked around 21 hits in the game, spearheaded by Edgell (4 for 5) and three-hit showing from Quicel and Ryan Mitchell.

GAME TWO (W 9-3):
JCU plated an early run before Otterbein took over with four in the second. Zach Franz had a timely 2-RBI poke through the opposite left side and the Cardinals strung together a workmanlike performance across the afternoon.

Otterbein ultimately found itself up 8-2 by the midway point, and that cushion would be more than sufficient for senior lefty Nicky Zorne operating on the bump. He tossed eight strong and retired 12-consecutive batters to finish his showing. The fifth-year veteran now holds a solid 5-1 record and 3.33 E.R.A. over a team-high 46 innings this spring.

Franz reached base all four times by going 3 for 3 with a walk. Luke Barber, Edgell and Quincel continued swinging hot bats with multi-hit efforts once again.

The program recognized double-digit members of another deep senior class after the second game, welcoming family members on the field to celebrate accomplishments.

MOVING FORWARD:
Plenty of baseball is still left to be played after commencement Sunday afternoon. The Cards (24-10) will play non-conference games with Oberlin and Adrian before traveling to Marietta next weekend.