Baseball team defeats Otterbein, 12-6, for first win of season

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Sophomore Joseph Crosby started on the mound and threw a solid five innings to help  the Olivet College baseball team defeat Otterbein (Ohio) University, 12-6, today inside Terry Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

The Comets took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top half of the first inning. Sophomore Luke Spotts led off the game with a single and stole second base. He came around to score on a single by junior Austin Cleaver. Cleaver went to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Bryan Reed.

The Cardinals got one run back in their half of the first frame. Olivet then sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs in the second inning to take an 8-1 lead. The Comets added three more runs to their total with three runs in the third inning. Otterbein plated a run in the bottom half of the third to make the score 11-2.

Olivet responded with another run in the fourth inning. The Cardinals scored the final four runs in the game – two in the fourth, one in the sixth and one in the seventh.

For the game, the Comets pounded out a season-high 19 hits. Cleaver was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBI. Junior Brady Johnson also went 3-for-6. Junior Andrew Dayfield and senior Jimmy Schoof were each 3-for-5 and two runs scored. Senior Stephen Botti collected two hits and drove in two runs. Spotts also had two hits and scored three times.

Crosby allowed three earned runs on seven innings in his five innings. Senior Ryan Roeske gave up two runs on two hits in an inning of relief. Freshman Gage Roberts tossed the final three innings and yielded only two hits to earn a save.

Olivet plays Carroll (Wis.) University tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.