Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinal softball squad sweeps second-place Ohio Northern on Wednesday afternoon behind solid pitching and timely hitting.

Otterbein (21-4 overall) remains perfect in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play now standing at 6-0 in the league, while Ohio Northern conversely moves to 17-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

The Cardinals now await a matchup at cross-town rival Capital on tap for Saturday. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. in Bexley, Ohio.

Game One

Cardinal starting pitcher Kasey Morris was stellar in the circle tossing her third-straight complete game, this one coming in shut-out fashion. Morris dealt seven innings of four-hit ball, tying a season-best five strikeouts with just one walk allowed.

Ohio Northern's starter Kaitlin Surdej was also solid in her start despite winding up on the losing end of the decision, as she went the complete-game as well and allowed just one run on four hits while fanning five Otterbein batters.

The highlight offensively for the Cardinals came in the bottom half of the fourth inning on a two-out, solo home run off the bat of left fielder Bailey McElwain. The homer was McElwain's team-leading fourth of the season.

Four different Otterbein players were credited for the team total in hits, as the Polar Bears recorded the same margin with as many players reaching base safely on a hit.

Game Two

The Cardinal offense got going much quicker in game two following a lead-off double from short stop Alyson Shaw over the right fielder's head, before she scored three batters later on first baseman Megan Garner's run-scoring single.

Otterbein added an additional run the following inning, as Shaw reversed roles and drove in Morris who reached on a single up the middle with one down.

Both pitchers were stellar again the entire game with Cardinal starter Gabby Johnson keeping her perfect record intact at 8-0 on the year, as she recorded her sixth complete-game with a shutout in which she allowed just two hits and walked one batter while striking out nine.

Johnson has now fanned nine or more batters in three-straight games and has tallied eight or more strikeouts eight different times this season.

Shaw finished with a game-high four hits in as many at bats, posting a pair of doubles and one run to partner with her run-scoring hit, while catcher Tory Speakman went 2 for 3 with one run scored.