Sophomore T.J. Storer's two home runs leads Baseball to double header sweep of Otterbein

By Caleb Scott

WESTERVILLE -- Sophomore T.J. Storer hit two home runs as the Ohio Northern baseball team opened Ohio Athletic Conference play with a double header sweep of Otterbein Saturday afternoon at Fishbaugh Field in Westerville.

The Polar Bears improve to 11-5 overall and 2-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Cardinals fall to 13-5, 0-2.

Storer led the way for the Polar Bears as he hit two home runs and added five RBIs.

In game one Northern got on the scoreboard early as senior Nick Eltzroth hit an RBI single to right field to plate senior Andy Lubonovic and give the Polar Bears a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Otterbein was able to answer in the fourth inning to knot the game up at 1-1.

The Polar Bears would retake the lead in the fifth inning as sophomore Jordan Bostater would hit an RBI single down the right field line and score Lubonovic to push the lead to 2-1.

The Cardinals would again answer in the bottom of the fifth inning as Mark Walton scored on a solo home run. 

Northern would open the game up in the top of the seventh as sophomore Hayden Shenefield reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Bostater hit an RBI single to score Shenefield and put Northern ahead 3-2.

On the ensuing at bat, Storer hit his first career home run and pushed the Polar Bear lead to 5-2. 

ONU would seal the game in the top of the ninth as senior Nick Eltzroth led off with a home run over the right field fence and extended the lead to 6-2.

After Storer doubled down the right field line, sophomore Jason Burkett would triple to right center and score Storer to give Northern a 7-2 advantage. 

The Polar Bears added one more insurance run in the ninth inning as senior Clay Small hit a sac fly to left field and scored Burkett and gave Northern the 8-2 victory.

Storer earned the victory on the mound for Northern and improved his record to 2-0 on the year.

In game two, Northern would get an early lead in the third inning as sophomore Dan Barna scored off a sacrifice fly from Eltzroth to put Northern ahead 1-0.

Otterbein was able to even the score in fourth inning before the Polar Bears regained the lead in the fifth.

Lubonovic would single and steal second before advancing to third on an error by the Cardinal catcher and senior Cody Meyer would hit an RBI single down the right field line and put ONU ahead 2-1.

On the ensuing at bat Eltzroth would double to right field and Meyer would advance to third base before Bostater would single to right field and score Meyer.

Northern extended the lead to 4-1 as Storer plated Eltzroth on a sac bunt.

Otterbein was able to get two back on the Polar Bears in the fifth inning as Tyler Kent hit his OAC-leading fifth home run of the season to pull the Cardinals with 4-3.

The Polar Bears opened the game up in the eighth inning as Barna and Small both scored on a two RBI triple from sophomore Braydon Focht to push the lead to 6-3. 

Focht would score on the next at bat as Eltzroth hit a double down the right field line.

Storer would hit his second home run of the day on the ensuing at bat and add two more runs for Northern to push the lead to 9-3.

Ohio Northern added two insurance runs in the ninth inning as Small and sophomore Brandon Kasberg scored to seal the 11-3 victory.

Senior Ben Glischinski earned the victory for the Polar Bears on the mound and improved to 3-1 on the season.

Northern will return to the field Tuesday as they play host and welcome NCAC foe Denison to Wander Field at 4 pm.