James Usher

WOOSTER, Ohio – A two-out rally led to a game-changing six-run sixth inning for Otterbein University, as The College of Wooster was unable to climb out of a then-8-2 hole, and the Cardinals salvaged a mid-week split between the two teams by prevailing 14-2 at Art Murray Field on Thursday.

After Wooster (27-10) won 11-3 two days ago, thanks in part to 11 free passes, the tables were turned. With the game tied 2-2 and two outs in the top of the sixth, Otterbein (28-8) loaded the bases via a walk, a hit by pitch, and a walk, and then the go-ahead run came in on another walk.

The Cardinals kept the rally going, as Mark Walton looped a two-run single into left, Tyler Kent found a hole through the left side for an RBI base knock, and a walk later, Stephan Hernon drove one through the middle for two more runs, and suddenly they were ahead by six.

Otterbein tacked on single tallies in the seventh and eighth and four in the ninth, including a Hernon three-run homer, while the Fighting Scots were unable to mount a comeback bid.

It appeared that Wooster was in store for a high-scoring day when the first five batters of the bottom of the first reached safely. Jake Fling led off with a double into right-center, Joey Gilmore hit a blooper safely into left-center, and Michael Wielansky hammered a double off the wall near straightaway center to plate Fling. Jamie Lackner and Ryan Ostendorf were both hit by pitches, with the latter scoring Gilmore, however, the Cardinals escaped further damage.

The Scots produced five more hits the rest of the game – two by Wielansky, who went 3-for-5 overall.

On the mound, Wooster's Zach Woullard, Tyler Schuch, and James Usher did not allow an earned run over the opening five innings. Noteworthy, Woullard struck out five in the first two and Usher worked around two hits and two walks during the scoreless fourth and fifth.

This weekend, the Scots host Wabash College (17-20) in a North Coast Athletic Conference Crossover Series. Three games will be played – two on Saturday and one Sunday, starting at noon both days – and the winner will move on to next week's four-team NCAC Tournament.