WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- The Grove City College baseball team opened the northern portion of the 2010 schedule Wednesday afternoon by splitting a non-conference doubleheader at regional power Otterbein. In the opener, Grove City scored nine runs in the top of the seventh to earn a 16-10 victory over the Cardinals.

Otterbein (1-1) rebounded for a 15-1 win in Game Two.

In the opener, Grove City sent 13 men to the plate in its nine-run rally. Junior shortstop Andrew Patterson (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) put the Wolverines ahead 11-10 with a two-run single in the seventh. Junior left fielder Butch Kriger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) also ripped a two-run single that extended the lead.

Patterson also cracked a two-run double in the second inning and belted a two-run home run in the fourth. He went 4 for 5 with six runs batted in and three runs scored. Patterson's homer gave Grove City a 7-3 lead. However, Otterbein rallied for one run in the fifth and took the lead with six runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Junior reliever Steve Stombaugh (Mount Lebanon, Pa./Mount Lebanon) recorded the final out of the sixth and earned the win in relief of starter Mike Herringshaw (Chardon, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin). Herringshaw allowed eight earned runs in 5 2/3 innings for Grove City.

Freshman Erick Locker (Canton, Ohio/Lake Center Christian) pitched a scoreless seventh in relief.

Junior catcher Marcus Magister (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) went 3 for 3 while freshman right fielder Josh Sacks (Columbia, Md./Chapelgate Christian) doubled, singled and scored four runs from the leadoff spot. Kriger and freshman second baseman Zach Butler (Massillon, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) both had a pair of hits.

Otterbein jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first inning of Game Two. Sacks went 2 for 3 for Grove City while freshman catcher Andrew Desrosiers (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) doubled and singled.

Junior Cory Metcalf (Ashland, Ohio/Ashland) started and took the defeat. Stombaugh pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief. Sophomore Andrew Krull (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) allowed one earned run in two innings of work. Butler also surrendered one earned run in two innings.

Grove City will visit La Roche Thursday in a single non-conference game at 3 p.m.