Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MARIETTA, Ohio – The Otterbein University softball team won both games of a doubleheader at Marietta on Tuesday, claiming game one in six innings, 13-1, followed by a 5-2 victory in game two.

Otterbein (19-3-2 overall) continues its strong performance at the plate as a team this season, as it came into Tuesday with the best team batting average (.417) in all of NCAA Division III. Junior Molly Riggs, the team-leader in hitting (.528), is currently ranked 13th in the country.

The Cardinals look to build on their 6-0 record in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play as they continue a busy slate of games with a doubleheader on Wednesday at Ohio Northern. Game one is set for 3 p.m. in Ada, Ohio.

Game 1

Starting pitcher Rachael Owens continued her impressive sophomore campaign allowing one run on two hits in six innings for her 11th win of the season in the circle. Owens, the reigning OAC 'Pitcher of the Week', is now 11-1 on the year with a 2.50 earned run average.

Sophomore Bailey McElwain enjoyed a stellar outing in game one, going 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and a pair of runs batted in. McElwain drove in the initial run of the game on a single through the left side and the Cardinals never looked back, scoring eight-straight runs in the first two innings.

McElwain connected on her league-leading sixth home run of the season in the sixth inning, increasing the Cardinal lead to 9-1. Otterbein plated four more runs in the inning, granting the mercy rule win for the Cards.

Owens and juniors Tory Speakman and Niki Weaver also drove in two runs apiece, as the Cards outhit the Pioneers by a margin of 13-2.
 
Game 2

The Cardinals faced more of a challenge in game two, as neither team scored through the first three innings of action. Sophomore Maddie Flasco reached on a single to leadoff the fourth inning, jump starting the Cards' offense.

Garner and Owens then reached base safely in consecutive at-bats, before Riggs drove in the first run of the game. Speakman bumped the Cardinal lead up to 3-0 in the next at-bat, smacking a two-run double down the right field line.

Otterbein added to its lead in the fifth inning as sophomore Megan Garner, the reigning OAC 'Hitter of the Week', singled up the middle of the Pioneer infield to score junior Chey Rowe, who drew a one-out walk earlier in the inning.

Freshmen pitching duo Gabby Johnson and Meggin Kelley combined for five innings of work, with Kelley picking up her second win of the year after relieving Johnson to start the fourth inning. Johnson started the game and went three innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out three batters.

Kelley tossed two innings, allowing one run on two hits before Owens came in to begin the sixth inning and earned her first save of the season.

Flasco and Riggs recorded three hits apiece, going a combined 6-for-8 at the dish with two runs scored. Garner and Owens also posted multi-hit games, combining for a 4-for-6 outing. Speakman drove in a game-high two runs.