MARIETTA, Ohio – It was a disappointing ending (after a late rally) Tuesday night for the Otterbein baseball team, forced to take a doubleheader sweep at the hands of nationally-ranked Marietta College under the lights of Don Schaly Stadium.

The Pioneers, a World Series team from last year now ranked No. 19 in the latest national poll, won the opener 13-5 before escaping 6-5 in extra innings of a nail-biting rematch.

GAME 1 RECAP:

• Otterbein began the day with a 2-0 lead after four-straight hitters reached safely – Brayden Carter was hit by a pitch and Noah Sprowls walked, followed by consecutive singles from Jamie Perebzak and Gavin Wolf. But Marietta (facing one out and the bases loaded) limited the Cardinal damage to just a pair.
   
• The Pioneers catapulted ahead with four runs in the bottom of the third, and Otterbein trailed 5-3 entering the sixth before a massive equalizer. Will Johnson came off the bench for a pinch-hit, two-run homer (out of a full count) that was long gone from the second it left the bat.
   
• Unfortunately, Marietta regained a slight lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning and busted the game open with seven more runs later on.
   
• The game saw a combined 27 hits between the clubs, including multi-hit efforts by Wolf and Ryan Grant.

GAME 2 RECAP:

• The nightcap would be lower scoring despite another 29 combined hits offensively. Each side tallied a run in the second, with Otterbein striking first thanks to an RBI-single off the bat of new catcher Zac Taylor.
   
• Marietta opened a lead by scoring four runs (all with two outs) in the bottom of the fourth. The sequence was furthered on a 3-2 walk that loaded the bases, and punctuated on a double down the right-field line moments later.
   
• Otterbein regrouped and made a push in the sixth. Opening singles by Zach Franz and Adam Folk led to a sac bunt from Taylor, which allowed Grant to drop an RBI bunt single and beat it out. That forced a Marietta pitching change before the Cards manufactured two more across the plate, coming on a single from Brayden Carter (0-2 count) and Noah Sprowls' sacrifice fly to right field.
   
• The Cardinals faced a 5-4 deficit into their last at-bat but wouldn't go quietly, as Wolf smoked a leadoff double before the next two hitters were retired. Jake Brown (with Wolf on third) entered as a pinch hitter, saw a couple pitches and ultimately made contact for a two-hopper that found its way through the left side. The play was scored E5… but allowed Wolf to sprint home regardless.
   
• Braydon McCloskey tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to force extras, but Otterbein also went down in order to begin the tenth. Marietta had the final say in the bottom portion with three-consecutive singles to end the night.
   
• Carter, Wolf and Franz all had three hits in the game. Wolf (no-decision) also started on the mound while freshmen Luke Walter and Sam Sethna provided over four middle innings of scoreless relief.

 
LATER THIS WEEK:

The Cardinals will get back home to welcome Oberlin for a single, non-conference game on Thursday afternoon (4 p.m.) before heading to Tiffin this weekend for an OAC doubleheader at Heidelberg.