Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein softball team salvaged a split with John Carroll on Friday afternoon, suffering just its second loss of the season in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play.

The Cardinals (25-6 overall) move to 10-2 in conference action after posting just their second home loss of the year, as they turn their attention to a trip to Wilmington next Wednesday. First pitch of game one is set for 3 p.m.

Game One

John Carroll blasted a two-out solo homer to begin the first frame, but that proved to be its only run of the game as the Cards struck back in the bottom half with a run of their own.
Otterbein began the inning with two-straight singles from sophomore Alyson Shaw and junior Maddie Flasco, before junior Megan Garner recorded a run-scoring groundout which scored Shaw.

Cardinal starter Gabby Johnson dominated the Blue Streaks from the second inning on, allowing just one hit before finishing the contest for her team-leading ninth complete-game with nine strikeouts.

Otterbein posted two additional runs in the back-to-back innings spanning the fifth and sixth, thanks first to run-scoring single up the middle by Shaw followed by a single to center field the next inning off the bat of senior Tory Speakman.

Shaw finished the game with a pair of runs scored to go along with two hits alongside Flasco and senior Molly Riggs, who also crossed the plate in the game.

Game Two

The Cardinals again surrendered the game's first run, this time in the top half of the third inning after JCU was held hitless through the first two frames. The Blue Streaks notched their first run following a leadoff single and then a pair of two-out singles which resulted in a score.

Otterbein's highlight offensively came in the bottom of the fourth as it planted four-straight base runners thanks to three singles and a walk, before starting pitcher Rachael Owens drove in junior Bailey McElwain following a steal by pinch runner Kendall Lloyd.

It was all Blue Streaks from that point forward as they pushed across four runs over the final three innings, with three of them coming in the fifth on two hits and a pair of errors by the Cards.

Owens picked up the loss for the Cards to move to 7-4 on the season despite fanning seven JCU batters, before freshman Kasey Morris came on in relief for the final two innings.