The Otterbein baseball team improved to 14-4 overall and 3-1 in OAC competition after sweeping a pair of games against Capital University on Sunday afternoon.
Otterbein won game one with a score of 3-0. The Cards scored all their runs in the first two innings, notching RBI’s from Sean Kettering in the first inning, and adding two more in the second from Nich Pitzer and Taylor Hutchison. They were backed by a strong pitching performance from sophomore pitcher Robert Kemer. Kemer threw his second career complete game shutout, holding the Crusaders to just five hits, walking none, and striking out eight. With the win, Kemer improved to 3-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 1.57.
“I was locating my fastball very effectively today by pounding the corners, which set up my slider,” said Kemer. “In this conference you can’t get away with not locating your fastball. I threw at least 90% fastballs today, and they just couldn't catch up. When they put the ball in play, they hit it right to one of my fielders.”
Capital took an early 1-0 lead to start the second game, but the Cardinals came right back with four runs in the second inning. Pitzer started the scoring with an RBI on a fielder’s choice. After a Taylor Hutchison walk, Capital committed one of their four errors on the ensuing ground ball by Tyler Kent, which lead to Pitzer scoring. Then, following a Kettering walk, senior Jake Simmerman singled through the left side, scoring Kent and Hutchison. Those were the only runs the Cardinals would score in the game, but it was enough to secure the win by a final score of 4-2.
Senior pitcher Taylor Ellis earned his first win on the mound this season, pitching five innings and only allowing one earned run. He gave way to Adam Collier who turned in three scoreless innings before Caleb Norton entered for the save. It was Norton's fourth save of the season.
Kemer said it was important for the Cardinals to win both games today, following their two game losing streak. “The sweep today was huge,” Kemer said. “Right now five OAC teams are receiving votes in the Top 25 poll, and only four teams make the OAC tournament. That means every OAC game is a big game.”
The Cardinals play next on Friday against Baldwin Wallace at home. The first pitch is scheduled for 1p.m.
