Baseball Downs Otterbein in Shortened Game

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Mitchell College picked up a 6-3 victory over Otterbein College on Saturday night in a game that was called in the sixth inning due to heavy fog in the area.

The Mariners made the most of five hits to support starting pitcher Roland Thivierge with six runs. Thivierge lasted 5.0 innings and picked up his second win of the season, striking out seven while yielding only two runs. 

The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first before the Mariners tied the game in the home half. Mitchell plated the first run without even swining the bat as Otterbein starter Conor Crotty issued a walk before hitting three straight batters. Markus Melendez then delivered a single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.

Thivierge allowed only two more hits over the duration of his outing and kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard. The Mariners took the lead for good in the third inning when Devyn McCarty and Jason West each drew bases-loaded walks to force in runs.

Mitchell added solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings on another walk by McCarty and a passed ball that scored Peter Abate. Otterbein nicked reliever Justin Lukas for a run in the sixth, but the rookie worked his way out of a tight spot. The Cardinals loaded the bases with only one out, but Lukas got a comebacker to the mound and a line drive to escape the frame with a 6-3 lead intact. 

Mitchell was batting in the bottom of the sixth when the game was called due to heavy fog that limited visibility on the field. The Mariners improved to 2-1 on the season.

Mitchell will be back in action against Merchant Marine Academy on Sunday, March 3 at 3 p.m.