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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The three hours and nine minutes to begin the Snowbird Classic for Otterbein had about all you could handle Saturday afternoon, as the Cardinals ultimately escaped with a wacky 15-14 upset over nationally-ranked Misericordia (Pa.) to launch spring break.

Both teams were knotted 4-4 midway through the game before Otterbein exploded with 11 runs in just two frame, opening a double-digit lead. But the No. 14-ranked Cougars never quit and kept things interesting until the absolute end, plating six runs in the ninth inning before Max McCann tracked down a fly ball to help the Cardinals survive at Centennial Park.

NOTABLE MOMENTS:

• After both sides traded runs early, Misericordia went to its bullpen in the top of the fifth after Otterbein loaded the bases and Jamie Perebzak strutted to the plate. The "Big Swagu" absolutely catapulted a first pitch breaking ball from the new reliever to left field to bring home all teammates.
   
• One pitch later, Brayden Quincel was tested with a high fastball and sent that to straightaway center for a 410-foot homer, pushing the Cardinal lead to 9-4.
   
• Otterbein stayed on the gas pedal and made it a six-pack in the sixth, which saw opening hits from Noah Sprowls and Gavin Wolf before Quincel rocketed a three-run blast to left field. Four-straight hits later on, followed by a double steal involving Brayden Carter and Adam Folk, pushed the gap to a lopsided 15-4.
   
• Misericordia, fresh off an appearance in the Division III World Series last spring, scored a trio in the bottom of the sixth and stayed within shouting distance entering the homestretch. Otterbein left five runners on base over its final three offensive frames.
   
• Total mayhem occurred in the ninth as Otterbein had to grind toward the final outcome, with a dozen Cougars (multiple pinch hitters) reaching the plate during a one-out rally. The Cardinals were forced to bring on standout reliever Sam Sethna midway through the sequence with the bases loaded, ahead 15-10…
   
• Three hits around a swinging strikeout brought the final act to its closing scene, where Misericordia (down 15-14) suddenly had the winning run in scoring position. A poke to left-center seemed like it could be serious trouble, but McCann hustled to track it down going to hi left (and then the ground) to save the day.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The game ended with a combined 31 hits, as nine different players had multiple smacks on the day. Perebzak and Quincel combined for 10 RBI on the Otterbein side.
   
• Kyler Archual, reigning OAC Pitcher of the Week, improved to 2-0 this season as the starter. He threw fairly well before encountering a bit of trouble in the sixth, but pitched niely to contact and induced several fly balls.
   
• Sethna earned a wild save after he entered with the (potential) winning run on deck, following Braydon McCloskey chucking three frames before things got weird.
   
• Misericordia, setting the NCAA all-time record last year with 153 hit by pitches, earned another three this time around while strategically crowding the plate yet. Leadoff man Garrett McIlhenney (last year's national leader in on-base percentage) reached three times himself.
   
• The first four innings lasted just 59 minutes before the last five needed 2:10 to play out.

SUNDAY FUNDAY:

• The Cardinals will enjoy the victory but look to turn around rather quickly with a key pair of games back up at Centennial Park, playing Saint John's (Minn.) to begin Sunday morning before an afternoon matchup with Wabash.