Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinal softball team tallied a doubleheader split in non-conference action Monday afternoon, defeating Bluffton University, 8-3, in game one before a 4-0 loss in the second matchup.

Bluffton tied the first game up at 2-2 in the top of the fifth, but Otterbein quickly responded with six runs in the bottom of the inning to blow the game open. The Beavers connected on a solo home run in their last at-bat, but the lead would be enough for senior hurler Kelsey Long as she went the distance to earn the win.

Long, Kristen Ramer, Maddy Shelley and Calli Studebaker all tallied two hits in the game for the Otterbein offense, while Long also came up with nine fielding assists from her pitcher spot.

Bluffton jumped out to a lead in the second affair after three runs in the fourth inning, which ultimately proved to be the difference as Otterbein was unable to manufacture any runs the rest of the way.

Senior Laura Basford secured yet another school record in the game, however, ripping a lead-off double in the first inning to become Otterbein's all-time leader in the category. She now has 14 school records.

Senior Maggie McMahan allowed just one earned run over the first four innings in the circle before giving way to classmate Chelsea Burns, who only surrendered one more run the rest of the way.

Basford went 2 for 3 in the game and remains a few percentage points ahead of Muskingum's Kayley Bevard for the conference lead in batting average.

Senior Rachael Puthoff was impressive out in the field during game two, coming up with six assists and making no errors.

Otterbein travels to Case Western Reserve University on Thursday before hosting Heidelberg Saturday afternoon for Senior Day.