Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CLERMONT, Fla. - The Otterbein University softball team opened its 2016 campaign by defeating Houghton (N.Y.), 16-0, and Saint Mary's-Minnesota, 5-3, on Saturday at Legends Way Ballfields.

Otterbein returns to action tomorrow at Hancock Park, as the Cardinals face York (Pa.) at 9 a.m. before taking on Hanover (Ind.) at 11 a.m.

Game 1 vs. Houghton (N.Y.)

The Cardinals caught fire early on against Houghton scoring 10 runs through the first three innings of play. Sophomore Megan Garner plated the first run of the season for Otterbein, driving in classmate Bailey McElwain on a sharply hit double to left field. Junior Courtney Hanna then singled in a pair of Cardinal runs on a hit that was laced through the rightside of the Highlanders' infield.

Junior Molly Riggs began her solid day with an infield single, scoring sophomore Savannah Sarkine to lead off the second inning for the Cards. Sophomore pitcher Rachael Owens drove in two more runs and scored on a wild pitch, before Riggs cleared the bases on a triple to left center field. 

One of the many offensive highlights in the game came in the fourth inning when freshman Alyson Shaw smacked the ball deep into the outfield and raced around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Otterbein scored seven more runs in all over the course of third and fourth innings, picking up its initial victory of the year in a shortened five-inning game.

Owens, who won 11 games a year ago, was dominant in her return to the circle for the Cards, allowing just one hit in five scoreless innings, striking out five batters and walking just one. 

Riggs finished the game 3-for-4 with a career-high four runs batted-in, while also swiping one base. Sophomore Maddie Flasco also had a big game at the plate going 2-for-4 with three runs batted-in. 

Game 2 vs. St. Mary's-Minn.

Freshman pitcher Gabby Johnson took the ball to start the game against Saint Mary's of Minnesota, battling out of tough jams on the basepaths throughout the majority of the game. Much to Johnson's credit she left nine SMU runners stranded on the afternoon, retiring the side in the fifth inning.

Junior Tory Speakman tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning on a single that ultimatelty sent sophomore outfielder Amber Wuersig across home plate. Sarkine followed up in the next at-bat with a sharp double to left center field, scoring Speakman, before junior Chey Rowe scored Sarkine on a single to left field to give the Cards a 3-1 lead.

Owens doubled to center field in the third inning to bring home Garner, before SMU narrowed its deficit to 4-3 on a two-run triple in the top half of the fourth inning. Riggs followed in the bottom half, blasting a triple and advancing home for an insurance run at 5-3. 

Johnson allowed just one runner in the seventh inning, closing out the game strong for the first victory in the circle of her collegiate career. Riggs capped off her stellar day with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, totaling one run batted-in. Shaw went 2-for-3 in the game, swiping one base, as the Cards registered nine hits to SMU's eight.