Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The No. 21-ranked Otterbein University softball team posted its first loss in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play with a 7-5 defeat to Mount Union in game one, before rallying from behind for a 13-6 win in game two.

Otterbein (28-4-2 overall) enters its final week of regular-season play with a 15-1 record in the league, playing host to Bethany (W.Va.) this coming Tuesday before taking on Heidelberg next Saturday. Game one of the doubleheader against Bethany is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

The OAC Tournament is set for May 6-8 with final seeding and location information to be determined after next weekend's slate of games.

Game 1

The Cardinals surrendered a four-run second inning to Mount Union, as the Purple Raiders collected four hits and forced a pair of errors in the frame.

Otterbein pushed across its initial run of the game in the third inning, as sophomore Bailey McElwain hit a two-run double to right center field that scored freshman Alyson Shaw and classmate Maddie Flasco.

Mount Union increased its lead to 5-2 two innings later on a leadoff, solo home run by Brooke Cox. Otterbein then rallied in the sixth inning, scoring three runs after reaching base three times on one hit and a pair of errors on the Purple Raider defense.  

The Purple Raiders recorded three hits and pair of runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning to regain the lead for good. The Cards were outhit 11-6 by their opposition, striking out five times at the dish.

Starting pitcher Rachael Owens picked up her second loss of the season, moving to 15-2 overall in the circle, after allowing seven runs, three earned, on 11 hits and two walks.  

Game 2

Otterbein found itself in a familiar situation as game one, falling behind 4-0 in the first inning to the Purple Raiders. The Cardinals responded the next half inning with three runs of their own on four-straight hits, the highlight coming off the bat of McElwain with a two-run triple.

The Cards put up two more runs the following inning, as Shaw and Rowe were each credited with a run scoring single. Shaw's marked the first lead for Otterbein in either game. Mount Union tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring on a single up the middle.

Junior Courtney Hanna helped the Cards regain the lead for good, leading off the sixth inning with a single before coming around to score on a single by Flasco. McElwain broke the game wide open in the next at-bat, lacing a two-run single down the right field line to give Otterbein an 8-5 advantage.

The Cardinals went on to score two more runs in the inning and a trio of runs in the final frame to pull away from the Purple Raiders. Sophomores Megan Garner and Hannah Smith combined to relieve starting pitcher Gabby Johnson, with Garner tossing three complete innings in her first appearance of the year.

Smith picked up the win after the Cards gained the lead, as she went two and a third innings allowing one run on three hits. Five different players tallied two or more hits in the game for Otterbein.