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WESTERVILLE, Ohio - The Otterbein University softball team punched its first-ever ticket to the NCAA Division III Tournament with a 13-2 victory over Capital in the championship game of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament. 

The Cardinals, now 34-6 overall, came in as the top-seed in the conference tournament after capturing their second-straight OAC regular-season title last weekend, having added to their new program record for wins in a single season. Otterbein will now await the NCAA D3 Selection Show airing Monday at 1 p.m. to see who its opponent will be and where it will open play in the regional tournament.

"To see this program go from when I was a graduate assistant coach to where it is now, I'm just speechless," said head coach Christine Steines, who is in her eighth year at the helm. "Our coaching staff and the little things our players do have gotten us to this point. When everyone is wondering why we do certain things, the team has never questioned it and has continued to work hard and believe in our system."

Steines and her coaching staff, consisting of Laura Rose, Kim Tackett and Amber Young, were recognized by their peers in the conference for their efforts as they were voted OAC Coaching Staff of the Year for the second-consecutive spring, announced at the conclusion of the tournament by the league office.

Otterbein had a two-game layoff before playing in the championship game, as the final game of day one Saturday between Heidelberg and Mount Union was postponed due to rain. The Berg eventually fell to the Purple Raiders 8-2 to begin Sunday's final day, before Mount was eliminated by Capital in the semifinals, 7-1.

The win for the Crusaders setup a showdown with their cross-town rival, with the Cardinals having split at Capital during the regular season. Otterbein trotted out Gabby Johnson, the OAC 'Pitcher of the Year', to start the game as she went three innings allowing just one run on one hit while striking out three.

Otterbein's offense was key in giving Johnson a quick outing, as the Cards tallied seven runs through the first two innings thanks to eight hits. Sophomore Alyson Shaw and junior Maddie Flasco posted back-to-back singles to open the game before Shaw notched the game's first run after advancing on consecutive wild pitches.

Junior Megan Garner then put the Cards up 2-0 later that same inning, recording a run-scoring groundout which plated Flasco. The Cards then exploded offensively in the second, combing for five-straight hits to leadoff the frame, including three doubles and a triple to boost the score to 7-0.

Capital's Kristen Mellott posted the team's first run of the game on a solo home run to leadoff the Crusaders' half of the second inning, but Otterbein's pitching was stellar from that point forward as it allowed just three hits for the remainder of the game.

Junior Rachael Owens helped the Cards regain a seven-run advantage in the fifth, driving in pinch-runner Kayla Queer who ran for Garner after she led off with a single of her own. Capital scored one more run in the bottom half of the sixth inning, before the Cards inflated their lead with a five-run seventh inning on six hits.

In total, Otterbein had a season-high 19 hits as six different players finished with a multi-hit game. Sophomore Anna Edwards, who came on in relief of Johnson, who only tossed three innings of the required four to earn the victory as a starter, received the win after throwing three innings allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout. Freshman Kasey Morris also worked one inning in the circle, allowing one hit while striking out one and walking one.

Flasco, Johnson, Shaw and junior Bailey McElwain were all named to the all-tournament team after an impressive weekend of games for the Cardinals. For a full list of the all-tournament selections see the OAC Tournament page.