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Otterbein University Athletics

Jeff Zwicker
Bailey McElwain crushed a home run for the Cards against Christopher Newport.

Softball Written by Jeremy Morgan

Softball Cards Exit Play at Highly-Competitive Leadoff Classic

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Cardinal softball squad won two games and lost a pair in its final two days of competition at the highly-touted Leadoff Classic played at Lincoln Park.

Otterbein, now 2-4 on the year, will enjoy a day off tomorrow before resuming play on Tuesday in the Tucson Invitational Games. The Cards will face Fontbonne and Thomas More on Tuesday before taking on Husson and Staten Island on Wednesday.

Game Three vs. Pacific (Ore.): Won, 7-4

The Cardinals went ahead 2-0 in the top of initial frame thanks to a double to right center off the bat of senior Megan Garner, which scored classmates Bailey McElwain and Maddie Flasco.

Pacific earned one run back in the bottom half of inning number two following an error in the frame by Otterbein. But the Cards protected their lead with a three-run inning in the third, combining for three hits and a walk, the big hits coming from McElwain's double and a pair of runs batted in from sophomore Kasey Morris.

The Boxers responded though with a trio of runs of their own in the bottom half, before the Cards added insurance runs in the fourth and sixth innings to close out the contest.

Junior Anna Edwards was credited with the victory in relief of fellow junior Gabby Johnson, going four and a third innings of no-run ball while surrendering just two hits to go with seven strikeouts.

Game Four vs. St. Catherine: Lost, 6-4

Otterbein held a 3-0 advantage after three innings of play as Flasco drove in freshman Kristen Zink and sophomore Courtney Hackney in the second before freshman Katrina Wierzbicki notched her third run batted-in through the first four games the following frame.

It was St. Kate that stormed back though, slowly but steadily creeping within striking distance of the Cards by pushing across a run in back-to-back innings spanning the fourth and fifth, before plating four runs in the top half of the seventh inning.

Senior Rachael Owens, who accepted the loss in the game after tossing six and two thirds innings, managed to scratch across an additional run for the Cards in the last half, scoring McElwain.

Game Five vs. #11 Christopher Newport: Lost, 13-12

A high-scoring affair and sudden lead change was the story of the Cards' matchup against nationally-ranked Christopher Newport, as the two sides failed to score through the first two innings before combining for 25 runs over the final five.

The scoring began in favor of Otterbein as Zink and Flasco each drove in a run in the third inning, before McElwain crushed her first home run of the season on a two-run shot to right center field to give the team a 4-0 lead.

CNU retaliated with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame on a two-run single. The Cards stormed back with four more runs to start the next inning, compiling four hits, a hit by pitch and a walk to generate the scoring.

Otterbein held a 10-2 lead heading into the final half of the fifth inning and was ahead 12-8 as the game moved in on the final three outs, before CNU benefited from three hits, two walks, a hit by pitch and two errors by the Cards which led to the come-from-behind win for the Captains.

Game Six vs. #6 Trine: Lost, 21-2 (5inn.)

Trine took advantage of a long-layoff in between games and jumped in the scoring column quickly with a nine-run first inning on eight hits and a walk, including a two-run homer over the center field fence.

Otterbein pushed a run of its own across in the bottom half of the initial inning, as McElwain roped a double to right center and then came around to score on Garner having reached safely on an error.

The Thunder added two runs the following inning and another six in the top half of the third inning, before posting three more in the fifth. Trine has now connected on six home runs in six games so far this spring.

Other notable plays for Otterbein included senior Maria Reed recording a hard hit to left field in the fourth inning, while freshman Maria Herron collected her first collegiate hit and run batted-in, which scored senior Savannah Sarkine
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Anna Edwards

#18 Anna Edwards

P
5' 6"
Junior
Maddie Flasco

#14 Maddie Flasco

IF
5' 3"
Senior
Megan Garner

#17 Megan Garner

IF
5' 8"
Senior
Courtney Hackney

#15 Courtney Hackney

IF
5' 7"
Sophomore
Gabby Johnson

#21 Gabby Johnson

P
5' 6"
Junior
Bailey McElwain

#23 Bailey McElwain

Util.
5' 3"
Senior
Kasey  Morris

#16 Kasey Morris

P/Util.
5' 8"
Sophomore
Rachael Owens

#10 Rachael Owens

P/Util.
5' 8"
Senior
Maria Reed

#22 Maria Reed

IF
5' 8"
Senior
Savannah Sarkine

#11 Savannah Sarkine

Util.
5' 7"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Anna Edwards

#18 Anna Edwards

5' 6"
Junior
P
Maddie Flasco

#14 Maddie Flasco

5' 3"
Senior
IF
Megan Garner

#17 Megan Garner

5' 8"
Senior
IF
Courtney Hackney

#15 Courtney Hackney

5' 7"
Sophomore
IF
Gabby Johnson

#21 Gabby Johnson

5' 6"
Junior
P
Bailey McElwain

#23 Bailey McElwain

5' 3"
Senior
Util.
Kasey  Morris

#16 Kasey Morris

5' 8"
Sophomore
P/Util.
Rachael Owens

#10 Rachael Owens

5' 8"
Senior
P/Util.
Maria Reed

#22 Maria Reed

5' 8"
Senior
IF
Savannah Sarkine

#11 Savannah Sarkine

5' 7"
Senior
Util.