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WESTERVILLE, Ohio - The first-place Otterbein softball team claimed victory in both games of a doubleheader against Mount Union in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) mathcup on Senior Day at Rike Field.

Otterbein (29-6 overall) matches its win total from a season ago and improves to 14-2 in league play to punch its second-straight ticket to the OAC Tournament. The Cardinals enter the final week of the regular season with a doubleheader at Bethany (W.Va.) next Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

The Cardinals will then look to make it back-to-back OAC regular-season titles next Saturday when they travel to second-place Heidelberg for the regular-season finale, needing at least a split to again host the four-team tournament. A sweep by the Berg would in turn clinch its right to host. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. in Tiffin, Ohio.

Game One (Won 7-0)

The Cardinals were solid both offensively and defensively behind seven dominant innings from starting pitcher Gabby Johnson, who improved to 13-0 on the year after stifling the Purple Raiders. Johnson, who is top-three in the OAC in wins, earned run average and strikeouts, fanned 10 Raider batters and allowed just two hits the entire game, sitting down 17-straight batters between the first six innings.

Otterbein's offense aided Johnson's ease in the circle, as the Cards pushed across the game's first run on a walk and a pair of singles before catcher Tory Speakman recahed on an error, which scored second baseman Maddie Flasco. The Cards held on to a one-run advantage the next three frames, before planting three-straight base runners to start the fourth inning leading to a run-scoring single by Flasco.

Speakman added to the Cardinal lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning on a looping double to center field, which scored center fielder Molly Riggs from second after she moved into scoring position on a stolen base. Otterbein then inflated its lead to 7-0 the following inning with four runs on as many hits, including a two-out two-run double off the bat of right fielder Rachael Owens. 

Riggs and first baseman Megan Garner finished with a game-best three hits apiece, while Owens checked in with a pair of hits for a Cardinal team which posted 12 hits.

Game Two (Won 8-0)

Otterbein started off the game on the right foot once again, notching the game's first score in the bottom half of the second inning following consecutive doubles by Owens and designated player Niki Weaver. Weaver went a perfect 3-for-3 in the game, accounting for two of the Cards' eight runs.

The Cardinals again posted solid stellar starting pitching, this time from Owens who tallied her fourth complete-game and second shutout of the season after going six strong innings surrendering a trio of hits while walking just one Raider batter. Owens held Mount Union hitless over the first three innings and ended up allowing just three hits in total.

Garner led the Cards to their second run of the game in the bottom of the third after leading off with a single through the right side of the Raider defense, before Riggs, who also singled, stole second base to help setup Speakman who plated Garner on a run-scoring groundout.

The scoring situation was quiet over the next two frames, as the two squads combined for just four hits over the next 12 outs before Otterbein again erupted with a huge sixth inning. Owens led off the sixth with a triple to right field on a tough play which allowed the ball to skip past the Purple Raiders' right fielder, before a single by Weaver and a double by pinch hitter Maria Reed.

Otterbein then posted three more hits including singles from shortstop Alyson Shaw and Flasco, along with a two-run double off the bat of left fielder Bailey McElwain. The Cards eventually claimed the run-rule victory on single through the left side by Speakman to complete the sweep.

A total of five Cardinal hitters recorded a multi-hit game, while McElwain, Speakman and Weaver each totaled two runs batted in apiece to pace the contest.

All seven seniors including Chey Rowe, Molly Riggs, Kelly Jackson, Niki Weaver, Tory Speakman, Kate Lewis and Abby Rogers were also recognized pregame for their efforts as members of the Cardinal softball team.