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WESTERVILLE, Ohio - The Otterbein University softball team swept a doubleheader against Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday, coming from behind in game one to win 8-4 before taking game two, 8-1 in a darkness shortened affair.

Otterbein (13-2-1 overall) opens Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play at Muskingum on Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. in New Concord, Ohio.

Game 1

The Cardinals trailed by a score of 4-1 through the top half of the fifth inning, scoring their only run back in the third inning on a triple to center field by junior Molly Riggs as she eventually scored on a throwing error into the Bishops' infield. 

Sophomore Maddie Flasco led the Cardinal half of the fifth inning off with a double to center field while classmate Amber Wuersig pinch-ran for her and came around to score, along with Megan Garner, on a sharp double into the outfield by pitcher Rachael Owens. 

Junior Tory Speakman promptly double in Owens in the next at-bat, tying the game at 4-4. Freshman Alyson Shaw then broke the tie after reaching first base on an error by OWU, scoring pinch runner Kelly Jackson. Riggs made the score 6-4 in the next at-bat, as she too landed on first base following an error in center field.

Otterbein would go on to plate two more runs in the sixth inning on a double by Garner and single up the middle by sophomore Savannah Sarkine. Owens improved to 8-1 in the circle, going the distance with seven innings allowing four runs, two earned, on 11 hits and one walk while striking out four Bishop batters.

Game 2

Sophomore pitcher Hannah Smith allowed one run in the first inning to OWU but managed to strand a pair of baserunners, proving to be the only run allowed over the course of her six innings of work.

The Cardinal tied the game at one apiece in the second inning on a single up the middle by pinch-hitter, Niki Weaver. Otterbein's offense exploded over the next two innings as the squad plated three runs in each frame, including Smith helping her cause with a two-run single third inning. 

Junior Chey Rowe singled as the second batter of the fourth inning, setting up the home run show for the Cards. Flasco began the scoring with a two-run home run over the center field fence before classmate Bailey McElwain blasted a solo home run on top of the Clements Rec Center rooftop in left field. 

A run-scoring single in the fifth inning by Shaw proved to be other Cardinal run in the game. The game was again called in the bottom half of the sixth inning due to darkness. Smith picked up her first win of the season, going six innings while striking out one batter and allowing just four hits. Otterbein outhit OWU on the day, 31-15, while outscoring its opposition 16-5.