Holstein homers as Baseball drops OAC doubleheader at Otterbein

By: Monique Bowman

WESTERVILLE — The Ohio Northern baseball team suffered two losses at the hands of Ohio Athletic Conference opponent Otterbein University on Wednesday, falling 11-1 and 14-6 at Fishbaugh Field in Westerville.

ONU falls to 16-14 overall (3-9 OAC), while the Cardinals are at .500 with a 14-14 overall record (6-6 OAC).

Junior Matt Hampshire (Lima/Elida) and freshman Brian Thomas (Cross Plains, Ind./South Ripley) each went 3-for-7 at the plate, while sophomore Matt Holstein (Indianapolis/Lawrence Central) blasted a three-run homer in the nightcap, his first of the season.

In Game 1, ONU took the 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore Cory Martin (Akron/Ellet) reached on a Cardinal throwing error, then Hampshire followed up with a single to left center field to advance Martin to third base.

Junior Eric Yunker (Holland/Toledo Christian) then doubled to left center to bring in Martin and move Hampshire to third.

Otterbein didn't stay down for long, as the Cardinals put up 11 runs over the course of the fifth and sixth inning for the eventual 11-1 win.

Junior Cody Fisher (Helena/Gibsonburg) took the loss for the Polar Bears after pitching 5.0 innings and striking out two batters; he moves to 1-3 on the season.

The Polar Bears again took an early lead in Game 2, with Yunker scoring on another Otterbein fielding error in the second inning. Holstein then hit his homerun over the right field fence for the 4-0 advantage.

Otterbein would half ONU's lead in the bottom of the second and would take the lead with three runs in their next at bat.

Northern tried to put some offense together in the sixth and eighth innings but would only get one run in each of those innings.

Junior Ryan Damman (Fremont/Ross) counted the loss to move to 1-2 so far this season.

The Polar Bears look to rebound Friday as they return home to host Muskingum in a 1 p.m. twinbill.