April 27, 2024

Otterbein Sweeps Muskingum on Senior Day, Clinches Postseason Spot

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – It ended up being a scintillating Senior Day for the Otterbein baseball program in front of a nice crowd at Fishbaugh Field, where the Cardinals escaped a wild opening game (in extra innings) before pulling away to win the rematch more comfortably against a gritty Muskingum squad.

The Cardinals began the day with a 5-3 victory in the first contest on a walk-off, two-run homer from senior Jamie Perebzak in the 11th inning. Otterbein then used that momentum to build an early lead in the second affair before cruising to a 10-3 outcome.

Afterwards, the program celebrated a whopping 14 true seniors for their everlasting, ongoing and unique contributions since arriving during the middle of a pandemic four years ago. Many of them will walk Sunday afternoon at graduation.

Sixth-year senior Braydon McCloskey sang a rousing national anthem to launch action at the park and then, if all that weren't enough, the Cards officially clinched a spot in the upcoming four-team OAC Tournament thanks to other results around the league.

GAME ONE BREAKDOWN:

  • The opening game was cruising with a pitching duel between aces Kyler Archual and Erik Cover of the Muskies, who silenced the home crowd early behind a two-run blast from Aiden Reis in the first inning.

  • But Archual allowed just one hit over the next five innings (with many being 1-2-3) in giving his offense a chance to draw even, which it did in the third…

  • Brayden Carter poked a one-out single up the middle that deflected off the pitcher, and Noah Sprowls rocketed an RBI-triple into the alley. Perebzak then got enough for a sac fly and brand new ballgame at 2-2.
  • That score remained the same all the way into the ninth, despite the Cardinals finding some chances. They had bases loaded in the sixth and two runners on in the seventh, but to no avail.

  • Muskingum took a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth behind a pesky two-out rally that featured three consecutive singles that made way through a well-moving infield.

  • Otterbein was fortunate in the bottom of the ninth after a two-out chopper from Brayden Quincel went right to the third baseman, who sailed his throw just a bit that it forced a collision at the bag. Carter scampered home as the ball trickled free and the game headed to extras.

  • The Cards left a pair stranded in the tenth before a memorable finish in the 11th, where Noah Sprowls drew a leadoff walk and then stole second. Perebzak launched a rope down the left-field line that was curving toward, around and potentially over the foul pole. After a brief pause and many on the field awaiting word, the home-plate umpire signaled home run and Otterbein's bench erupted to meet/greet at home plate.

  • Archual lasted a smooth 8.2 innings and was clean after that initial home run, while Sam Sethna (4-1) picked up a relief win after keeping the Muskies in check from there. Carter and Gavin Thompson were each on base three times.

  • Cover and Max Vosters were also sharp for the visiting staff, allowing just eight hits and striking out a combined seven.

GAME TWO BREAKDOWN:

  • Otterbein got rolling again with a big second inning in the rematch, which featured a solo home run from Brayden Quincel (his league-leading 11th this spring) and then a timely 2-RBI smack from senior classmate Adam Folk.

  • Sprowls also delivered an RBI knock himself and a fielding error by the Muskies allowed the lead to reach 5-0 by the time the frame concluded.

  • That lead was good enough for Bryson Bell on the bump, as the junior surrendered just an unearned run in the third and then pitched around a few random baserunners in the middle innings.

  • Bell benefited nicely in the sixth as the Muskies had the bases loaded and saw DH Ryan Schwartz catapult a ball into the alley… only to watch centerfielder Caden Kirker make a lunging web gem going to the ground on the warning track.

  • The Muskies grounded into a double-play in the seventh, and Otterbein quickly took advantage in the bottom half by batting around and scoring another five runs. Just one hit occurred in the frame as the Cards enjoyed many free bases, officially busting the game open.

  • McCloskey relieved Bell in the eighth and then senior Nick Plucinski fittingly tossed a clean ninth.

  • Folk, Gavin Wolf and Logan Ullom all had two-hit days while Bell improved to 5-2 on the hill.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Cardinals have added a key non-conference doubleheader at PAC leader Washington & Jefferson in the middle of this coming week before finishing league play at Wilmington next Saturday.