WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- The Grove City College baseball team opened the northern portion of the 2012 schedule Wednesday afternoon by dropping both ends of a non-conference doubleheader to regional foe Otterbein at Fishbaugh Field. The host Cardinals earned a 12-3 win in Game One, then prevailed 11-3 in the nightcap.

Grove City (2-5) took a 1-0 lead early in the opener when junior center fielder Josh Sacks (Columbia, Md./Chapelgate Christian) singled and eventually scored on a single by junior catcher Doug Wells (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's).

However, Otterbein (5-1) countered with six runs in the bottom of the first to take command of the game.

Grove City pulled to within 8-3 in the fourth inning when junior left fielder Zack Struharik (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) belted a two-run homer that also scored sophomore first baseman Ryan Parker (Houston, Pa./Chartiers-Houston). Struharik finished the game 2 for 3.

Junior pitcher Zach Butler (Massillon, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) pitched five innings and took the defeat for Grove City. Senior Andrew Krull (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) pitched a perfect inning of relief.

Struharik went 3 for 4 with two doubles in Game Two but the Wolverines could not overcome an early 7-0 deficit. Junior DH Kyle Shock (Loudonville, Ohio/Hillsdale) went 2 for 4 and junior right fielder Cameron Jones (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) went 2 for 2.

Freshman Will Chaney (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) started and pitched five innings. He fanned five but took the setback. Junior Max Vickerman (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) pitched in relief.

Grove City will visit La Roche March 15 in non-conference action at 3 p.m.