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ALMA, Mich. – The No. 15-ranked Otterbein University softball team fell 3-2 to Illinois Wesleyan on Friday after surrendering a one-run lead in the last half of the seventh inning at the NCAA Regional, hosted by Alma College.

The Cardinals (34-7 overall) suffer their first loss in the last nine games and move on to Saturday's loser's bracket in the regional tournament, taking on DePauw which lost to Alma, 9-1, in Friday's initial round. The game is set for 1:30 p.m. at Scots' Park.

"Our team played tough today and showed why we deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament," said head coach Christine Steines in the post-game press conference. "Yes, it was our first time in the NCAA's, but that doesn't matter to us. We just have some little adjustments to make for the game tomorrow."

Senior Molly Riggs helped keep the initial inning scoreless as the Titans planted a pair of runners on with one out, before she threw out a would-be scorer for IWU from just in front of the warning track in left center.

Starting pitcher Gabby Johnson settled in nicely after surrendering the one-out double, not allowing another hit until the bottom of the sixth inning while fanning four over that span.

The Cards loaded the bases the next half inning to post their first scoring threat of the contest, leading to a strange sequence of events on the base paths. Sophomore Alyson Shaw laced the ball to right field, which was tracked down momentarily by IWU's Maggie Graham before she dropped the ball.

Shaw then sped past junior Savannah Sarkine, who was headed to second base, leading to a double play due to Shaw, who was called out on runner's interference, mistakenly moving ahead of the lead runner.

Senior Tory Speakman added to the Otterbein advantage to lead off the fourth inning, blasting the first home run of the spring on a shot over the fence in left center. Otterbein only managed to notch four hits for the remainder of the game, leaving the bases loaded in the bottom half of the fourth with one out.

IWU threatened the Otterbein lead in the last half of the sixth inning after compiling four base runners on two hits, an error and a fielder's choice en route to the Titans' first run of the game.

Johnson eventually loaded the bases with two outs in the frame, but then induced an inning-ending groundout to second base which junior Maddie Flasco was credited for the putout after beating IWU's Julie Josten to the bag.

The Titans' final chance to tie the game came following a lead-off single off the bat of Brittany Murphy, who advanced to third base following a groundout and a wild pitch from Johnson.

The speedy Runyon then reached base on an infield single, before promptly stealing second and moving to third after Murphy tied the game following another wild pitch. Johnson struck out the next Titan batter before Runyon crossed home plate for the game-winning run after Shelby Fulk reached on a fielder's choice to end the game.

Johnson accounted for just her first loss of the season in the circle, now 16-1 on the season, tallying her first non-winning decision since the end of March when conference play began.

IWU starter Mackenzie Marquis also went the distance in the circle, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking three to improve to 12-6 on the year.