Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinal softball team used solid pitching and timely hitting en route to a sweep of Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) foe Marietta on Wednesday at Rike Field.

Otterbein (24-5 overall) boosts its mark in league play to 9-1 and has now won six of its last eight games with a matchup against John Carroll at home this Friday. First pitch of game one is set for 3 p.m.

Game One

Starting pitcher Gabby Johnson was stellar again in the circle for Otterbein with her eighth complete-game of the year, tossing seven strong innings of two-hit ball while also striking out seven Pioneer batters.

The Cardinals had multiple miscues in the field but rebounded nicely each time, stranding seven Marietta base runners in the contest.

Otterbein generated its scoring in the game in separate innings, notching one run in the first on a double to left center off the bat of left fielder Bailey McElwain, which scored shortstop Alyson Shaw.

The Cards then manufactured back-to-back three-hit innings in the fifth and sixth, leading to a run in each. Shaw blasted a one-out double to left center in the fifth before coming around to score on a single through the right side of the Pioneers infield by first baseman Megan Garner.

Senior Molly Riggs led off the bottom half of the sixth with a single up the middle before increasing the Cards' lead to 3-0 following consecutive singles from catcher Tory Speakman and a bunt single by third baseman Savannah Sarkine.

Game Two

The Cards planted four base runners on three hits and a walk to start the game, including a leadoff bunt single from Shaw who eventually scored on a single up the middle by Garner.

Marietta tied the game in the top half of the next inning after compiling a pair of hits while also benefiting from a pair of Cardinal errors, notching its first run of the day with one out.

Otterbein regained the lead two frames later on two-straight singles between starting pitcher Kasey Morris and Speakman. Senior Chey Rowe crossed the plate to break the 1-1 tie later in the inning after pinch running for Morris, as Shaw was credited with the run-scoring hit with two outs.

The Cards added an additional run in the last half of the sixth as Morris slid safely into home following a wild pitch by the Pioneers' Alison Sach.

Morris shut down the Pioneers for the remainder of the game, picking up her fifth win of the year after tossing her third complete-game. Marietta starter Jocelyn White went five and a third in the circle, striking out three while allowing nine hits, before Alison Sach came in relief to toss the remaining innings.

Shaw led the game with a 3-for-4 mark at the plate, while Morris helped herself out on the offensive end with a 2-for-3 outing. Four additional Cardinal hitters posted a hit in the game.