Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinal softball team picked up a 5-3 win over John Carroll University after they were defeated 8-0 in the first game at Rike Field Sunday afternoon.

Otterbein University moves to 13-8 overall, 3-5 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) with the split. Meanwhile, the Blue Streaks improve to 7-3 in the OAC, 16-8 overall.

The Cardinals shook off the effects of their 8-0 loss in six innings quickly in game two. Otterbein plated three runs in the first inning behind three base hits, including a double by junior Kristen Ramer, to take an early 3-0 lead.

After John Carroll cut into the lead with a pair of runs in the second, the Cardinals answered back in the form of a solo home run by junior Rachel Puthoff to extend Otterbein’s lead to 4-2.

Neither team generated much offense until the fifth inning, when John Carroll loaded the bases with just one out.

The Streaks scored a run on a sacrifice fly, but a double-play ended the John Carroll threat and preserved the Cardinal lead at 4-3.

Similar to the second inning, Otterbein answered the Blue Streak run by tacking on one of their own. Ramer smacked her second RBI-base knock of the game to give the Cards an insurance run to work with heading into the final two innings.

Junior Maggie McMahan (1-2) shut down John Carroll in the final two frames to preserve the win. She went five innings and limited the Streaks to one run on three hits, while striking out one.

Ramer was the star at the plate for the Cardinals in game two. She finished the game 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

Freshman Bryn Allen had a fine afternoon for Otterbein, going 3-for-6 with one RBI and one run scored between the two games.

The Cardinals will be back in action Wednesday, April 17, for an OAC twin-bill with Marietta College. First pitch from Rike Field is scheduled for 3 p.m.