WESTFIELD, Ind. – The Otterbein baseball team split a pair of games to conclude its weekend trip at Grand Park, beginning with a notable victory Saturday night but then dropping its only game of the Crossroads Crossover Series on Sunday morning.

The Cardinals took down No. 23-ranked North Central in a 3-1 dogfight, and then couldn't get enough going offensively in the finale en route to a 7-2 loss against another regional team, Lawrence University from Wisconsin.

NORTH CENTRAL RECAP (W 3-1):

It was a dynamite showdown between undefeated Cardinals. North Central, a regional finalist last season, rolled out All-American Luke Lamm to the mound while Otterbein sent freshman Luke Walter to make his first college start.

NCC gained a 1-0 lead in the third frame after manufacturing a sac fly but Otterbein countered with a run in the fourth. Gavin Thompson smoked a one-out double before a quick single from Brayden Quincel brought his teammate around.

Sophomore left-hander Robby Kain entered for middle relief and managed to escape a few critical jams/situations. He inherited two baserunners (with nobody out) in the fourth but induced a double-play ground ball to Brayden Carter at third…

The sixth inning would then see a pair of momentum swings proving vital in the outcome. North Central had two runners on (nobody out again) in the top half before a lineout to Quincel at shortstop resulted in another timely double play, as Quincel immediately tagged the runner moving off second.

Otterbein took advantage in the bottom half with the only other runs of the night – Noah Sprowls walked before Jamie Perebzek singled up the middle and Thompson reached on a bunt single. The lineup would manufacture runs via a fielder's choice groundout (Quincel) and sac fly off the bat of Franz.

Senior right-hander Jackson Wilson came on to shove two-plus innings of quality relief, and fellow veter Hunter Paswaters ultimately secured the final two outs. Otterbein arms stranded 10 NCC runners on the night.

LAWRENCE RECAP (L 7-2):

The breakfast-ball finale didn't quite go in favor of the Cardinals, who saw reigning Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Year Quinn Berglin from Lawrence. He worked quick and allowed just one hit in five innings before having to exit with a slight injury.

The Vikings, defending Midwest champ and returning NCAA team from last spring, generated enough run support early for its pitching staff. They moved the baseball enough against Otterbein starter Trevor McKendry (making his college debut), crossing five runs in three innings before tacking on a few more.

Otterbein, down a touchdown, tried making a late push in the seventh, as Franz hustled home on a wild pitch and pinch-hitter Jake Brown got some contact for an RBI groundout. The momentum would stall out as Lawrence reliever Elden Santana chucked a pair of scoreless innings to conclude

Cardinal freshman Sam Sethna was sharp in his second appearance of the trip, overcoming a couple scattered hits to post three scoreless himself. Nick Plucinski then delivered a scoreless ninth.

UP NEXT:

• Otterbein will have almost a full week off to regroup before its spring break trip, leaving Friday for the Tucson Invitational Games out in Arizona. The Cards will play 10 varsity games and a few other JV games during their stay.