LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Sophomore Ryan Kramer stayed hot at the dish, and The College of Wooster baseball team cut down the strikeouts in Sunday's 10-4 loss against Otterbein University at Spalding University's Derby City Field.

Wooster (2-2) tested Otterbein (2-1) catcher Logan Ullom in the top of the first inning, and the Cardinals' backstop threw the ball away, enabling senior shortstop Eli Westrick to score on a double steal attempt. Otterbein recovered from the miscue, with third baseman Brayden Carter throwing out Kramer at the plate on a fielder's choice, which denied Wooster an early 2-0 lead.

Wooster tied Sunday's neutral site clash at four in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore center fielder John Panstares legged out a one-out triple to right field and scored on junior left fielder Leo Widtmann's grounder. Next, sophomore second baseman Andrew McGowan roped a double down the right field line and scored when senior designated hitter Bryn Langley laced a single up the middle.

The Scots' defense helped sophomore starter Jack Spring minimize damage. In the second inning, senior third baseman Grant Mitchell started an around-the-horn inning-ending double play to get the Scots out of a bases loaded jam. An inning later, a comebacker to Spring enabled sophomore catcher Colin Leslie to tag out Nick Plucinski at the plate. A double play started by McGowan in the fourth erased Otterbein's leadoff single.

Otterbein took control in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs on bases-loaded walks before Jamie Perebazak placed a two-run single into right field. The Cardinals added an insurance run in the seventh on Perebzak's RBI ground out.

Kramer finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and was the lone Scot with multiple hits. Wooster did steal four bases in the game, with two logged by Leslie, the Scots' catcher.

Spring went four innings and allowed four runs on seven hits. Sophomore Cooper Baer (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs in two-thirds of an inning. First-year Zack Barienbrock worked a scoreless eighth.

Noah Sprowls led Otterbein's offense with a 2-for-3 day. He reached base safely four times, drove in two, and scored a run.

Bryson Bell (1-0) started for the Cardinals and allowed four runs on five hits in six innings. Luke Perigo scored the save, working three innings of shutout relief.

Next, Wooster hosts Case Western Reserve University (2-0) in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 2. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.

Photo courtesy of Peter McGowan, Spalding University