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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein softball team ended the day with a doubleheader split Friday at its home field, beating Ohio Northern, 7-4, in game one before absorbing a tough 8-7 loss in the rematch.

The Cardinals stand at 10-14 overall and 6-4 within Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play after settling for the split, while the Polar Bears move to 16-7 on the year and 7-3 against the league.

ONU held a 4-0 lead in the middle of the fifth inning to begin the day, but Otterbein answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the game. Included in the stretch was a 2-RBI double from Rachael Owens that brought the score even.

The Cards tallied the difference-making runs in the following inning, getting a single up the middle from Maddie Flasco, an RBI-double from Bailey McElwain and an RBI-groundout from Megan Garner.

Owens, the reigning OAC 'Pitcher of the Week' sat down Ohio Northern 1-2-3 in their final at-bat to pick up her ninth win of the year and help Otterbein win its fifth in a row. Sophomore centerfielder Molly Riggs helped lead the way offensively with a 2 for 4 game in the leadoff spot.

Otterbein appeared poised for a sweep late in the second game, overcoming an early 3-1 deficit by score three runs in the fourth inning, two in the fifth and adding another in the sixth. The Cards carried that 7-4 advantage into the last inning, only to see a pesky ONU team string together a late rally, scoring four times with two outs and taking the lead.

The Cards had two runners on base, with just one out, in their final at-bat, but a hard line drive to center field from Riggs was caught and ultimately ended up being a game-ending double play.

Otterbein will be back in action Saturday afternoon, staying at home to host John Carroll for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.