WESTERVILLE, Ohio – It was a memorable afternoon at Fishbaugh Field across Good Friday, as the Otterbein baseball team blasted cross-town rival Capital by lopsided scores of 16-2 and 23-4 to mark a significant milestone in program history.
In addition to the Cardinals moving to 18-5 on the season and 4-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, the sweep allowed head coach George Powell to become just the fifth manager in a rich OAC history to reach 600 career wins. He joins a short list that also includes Don Schaly, Brian Brewer, Bob Fisher and Dick Fishbaugh.
Powell and Fishbaugh (624) have now accounted for 1,224 victories as a legendary duo, with the program seeing just two head coaches in the last 58 years. This current Otterbein team has now won nine games in a row.
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Cards immediately got to opposing starter Noah Bromberg by drawing four early walks to load the bases. Gavin Thompson got a decent piece for a sacrifice fly to plate the opening run, and fellow namesake Gavin Wolf later ripped a 3-RBI double with the bases loaded.
- Otterbein ace Kyler Archual was cruising on the hill to begin, retiring the first eight Comets until a two-out ball into the gap allowed the visitors on the board. Centerfielder Adam Folk provided a valiant effort on the play, almost hauling it in going to the ground.
- The Cardinals gradually added to the lead with a trio of runs shortly thereafter, and could have blown the game open a few times after some hard-hit balls were corralled by Comets in the field. Otterbein stranded multiple runners in the third, fourth and fifth.
- None of that would really matter behind the dynamic right arm of Archual, who operated fast and churned through batters even quicker moving forward. He retired 11 Capital hitters in a row (including a big-league style lunging grab and throw to first by second basemen Noah Sprowls) and did not allow a hit over the four middle frames.
- Otterbein left absolutely no doubt in the final result with a nine-run eruption in the eighth.
- The Cards smacked around 16 hits in the game and also drew seven walks. Wolf and Sprowls each hit safely three times.
- Archual improved to 5-0 this season with the gem, striking out seven over 99 pitches and his eight full. Nick Plucinski chucked a 1-2-3 ninth behind a pair of swinging K's himself.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS:
- Otterbein scored in all but two innings they graced the plate in this rematch, including a grand slam from Sprowls in the second inning to bust open a 7-0 lead.
- Capital hung around slightly across the midway point and trailed 10-4 at the midway point of the sixth, until an absolute marathon bottom half of the frame…
- The Cardinals scored a dozen runs in their sixth, getting 17 hitters to the plate across an eternity stretch where Capital had to make three pitching changes. Otterbein had nine hits alone before recording three outs.
- A slew of changes took place on both sides as multiple players were able to see action down the stretch, before Jake Brown hauled in his second lineout at the hot corner to cement the day.
- Bryson Bell improved to 3-1 on the mound as the starting pitcher, allowing just one earned run over his 5.2 frames and nearly capped off six full. Nevertheless, Luke Walter and Jake Carfangia combined for the other 2.1 innings in taking it home.
- Wolf and Jamie Perebzak each hit safely three times to lead the surge.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Cardinals, having just played 20 games in 28 days this past month, are scheduled to have a full week off to regroup but could always add a non-conference game if something arises. Regardless, they will ultimately continue OAC play next Saturday (4/6) at Mount Union.