TUCSON, Ariz. – Otterbein ran its record to 8-2 on the young season at the midway point of the Tucson Invitational Games, finishing off lengthy three-game sets with both Allegheny and Bethany Lutheran at the Kino Sports Complex.

The Cardinals completed a full three-piece combo of gator bites on Tuesday afternoon by topping Allegheny for a third time, one day after sweeping a doubleheader against BLC to also win that series.

In the process, head coach George Powell moved across 550 wins for his storied career. The veteran taskmaster now holds an overall record of 553-394-1.

MONDAY VS. BETHANY LUTHERAN:

W 13-6:

The Cards exacted revenge against the Vikings after a wild high-scoring affair on Sunday. This time around, both teams traded runs in the early going before Otterbein took control for good in the middle innings.

Brayden Carter delivered a huge 3-RBI triple (with two outs) that broken a tie game and put the Cards ahead 6-3. The Vikings got two back in the sixth, benefiting from a failed pickoff attempt by Otterbein…

Regrouping quickly, the Cardinals responded with another four runs in the next inning to create a more comfortable gap. Gavin Wolf and Sam Roy singled to begin the frame before a sac-bunt from Ryan Grant moved his teammates over. Adam Fold began the scoring with a sac fly and ensuing singles after the fact allowed Otterbein to pull away.

Trevor McKendry (1-1) picked up his first college win on the mound by going four innings. Nick Plucinski pitched a scoreless final inning while Jackson Wilson and Sam Sethna also contributed. Carter and Wolf both tallied three hits, with Carter driving in five runs.

W 10-9:

The Cardinals kept rolling to begin the rematch, posting five runs in a first inning that saw catcher Max  Latkovski smoke a 2-RBI double down the left-field line. BLC score three in the top  of the second to hang close over the middle innings…

Otterbein found another groove later on to widen its lead to 10-5 entering the sixth inning (scheduled for seven). Bethany Lutheran strung together another rally in that frame, however, plating five themselves to only trail 10-9.

Plucinski came on again to earn a save this time, notching two quick outs before the Vikings kept it interesting to the very end. The tying run got into scoring position before Plucinski fanned Liam Peterson following a lengthy at-bat.

Wolf, Noah Sprowls and Brayden Quincel all  enjoyed two-hit games. Luke Perigo went four innings as the starting pitcher for a win, allowing no earned runs in the process.

TUESDAY VS. ALLEGHENY (W 12-5):

Otterbein led 4-2 approaching the midway point after a big third inning saw RBI's from Logan Ullom, Folk and Carter. But the Gators captured some momentum with a trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth, initially scoring on a balk and then bringing two across on a sac-fly sequence that featured a Cardinal miscue on the relay in from left field.

No sweat, however, as a patient Otterbein offense soon got to the Allegheny bullpen. The Cards tallied seven runs across their next four outs from the seventh into  the eighth, including a pair of walks with the bases loaded and another via wild pitch.

Sethna (2-0) and Hunter Passwaters were steady on the mound to close the deal, combining to throw five scoreless frames in relief. Sethna entered in the seventh and was credited with the victory while Passwaters did not allow a hit over his 2.2 innings.

Quincel was 4 for 5 at the dish, which included a pair of hard-hit doubles.

OFF DAYS:

The Cardinals will get to relax after a grinding start to the trip, with no games scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday before a tough showdown with Gustavus Adolphus on the scheduled Friday at 1:30 p.m.