Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Otterbein softball team is now 3-1 overall on the young season through the first four games of The Spring Games hosted by PFX Athletics.

Otterbein is scheduled to face Cabrini and Saint Mary's (Minn.) tomorrow before enjoying an off day from competition on Tuesday.

Game 1 vs. Augustana (Won, 6-4)

The Cardinals tallied their first win of the 2017 season thanks to a three-run first inning in which they recorded a pair of walks along with as many hits.

Freshman Courtney Hackney plated the first run of the year for the Cards, and the first of her collegiate career, drawing a bases-loaded walk following a solid at bat.

Otterbein managed to score two more runs in the inning thanks to sophomore Alyson Shaw jump starting the Cardinal offense with a one-out single to center field that scored junior Bailey McElwain.

A wild pitch from Augustana's Shelby Grandt pushed junior Megan Garner across the plate, capping off a productive inning for the Cardinals.

McElwain added to the Cards' lead the next inning, driving in senior Chey Rowe, who drew a leadoff walk, on a well-placed sacrifice bunt down the third-base line.

The Vikings tallied their first run of the game in the top half of the third inning, posting their most productive frame of the game with three hits.

Otterbein got that run back the bottom half of the inning, as Hackney and Shaw reached base in consecutive at-bats, before pinch-runner Kayla Queer crossed the plate following a

groundout back to the pitcher by Owens.

Augustana threatened the Cardinal lead after scoring three times between the final two innings, but to no avail as freshman Kasey Morris tossed three innings of relief, recording five strikeouts including one in the final inning, to collect a save.

Owens was credited with the win for the Cards, pitching four innings allowing six hits and just one run with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Game 2 vs. Brandeis (Won, 5-4)

Otterbein wasted no time in inking the scoreboard in its defeat of Brandeis, scoring two runs in the first inning, credited to Garner and Hackney, thanks to a pair of hits and a walk.

Neither team managed to score in the second frame, as starting pitcher Gabby Johnson helped keep the Cardinal lead intact.

Brandeis manufactured its most-productive inning in the third, pushing a trio of runs across on five base runners on three hits, two hit batsman, and a walk.

Johnson was relieved of her pitching duties midway through the inning for sophomore Anna Edwards, who allowed a single before inducing groundout to end the frame.

Otterbein found itself trailing for the first time all day but quickly tied the game in the bottom half of the inning following a shot down the left-field line by Hackney, which scored Garner.

Solid pitching held the score intact for the next two and a half innings, before the Cards tallied three runs on two hits and a pair of walks while also taking advantage of a miscue by the Judges.

Johnson re-entered the game with one out in the seventh and fanned two batters to end the game and record her first save of the season. Hackney finished with three runs batted in, while Riggs reached base three times and scored twice on a hit and two walks.

Game 3 vs. No. 10 Alma (Won, 3-2)

One of the Cards' marquee games of the trip came on the morning of day two, as Otterbein combined a 3-0 lead through the first three innings with strong pitching to defeat No. 10-ranked Alma.

Flasco was first to reach base for Otterbein after being hit by a pitch in the two spot, before Garner scored her on a two-out double to left center.

The Cardinals added two more runs in the third inning on three hits while also taking advantage of a pair of errors by the Scots. Alma responded in the top half of the following inning with its first two runs of the game to narrow its deficit to one run.

Owens, who picked up her second win of the year, went four innings for the Cards, allowing five hits, before exiting to begin the fifth for Johnson closed out the final three frames, posting her second save, allowing just one hit while striking out two batters.

Garner and Owens finished the game with two hits apiece, while both teams tallied six hits apiece with four errors combined.

Game 4 vs. Wartburg (Lost, 9-5)

Otterbein jumped out to a 4-0 advantage to begin the game, totaling three hits including a two-run home run from Garner, her first of the season.

Wartburg gained a run back in the bottom half of the second frame and then tied the game an inning later after stringing together three base hits.

The Knights found themselves in a similar spot the following inning, plating five runs on a trio of hits and flurry of miscues by the Cardinals.

Wartburg maintained its 9-4 lead until the fifth inning when Garner drove in her third run of the game on a groundout to second base.

The Cardinals tossed four pitchers in the circle in the game with freshman Kasey Morris recording the loss despite striking out four batters in two and a third innings.

Wartburg starter Brenna Gray went the distance allowing nine hits and walking two batters while forcing 11 groundouts.