Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein softball team secured a sweep of cross-town rival Capital in make-up game from last weekend played Wednesday afternoon.

The Cardinals (22-8, 9-3 OAC) will take to the road tomorrow for an all-important doubleheader at Ohio Northern. First pitch of game one is slated for 3 p.m. in Ada, Ohio. Senior Day is also set for Saturday against John Carroll with a game-one start of 1 p.m.

Game One – Won, 10-2 (5inn.)

After a scoreless first inning on both sides, the Cardinal offense exploded for a trio of two-run innings followed by a four-run fifth to secure the run-rule victory.

Senior Rachael Owens ignited the scoring spree with a leadoff single to start the second, before classmate Savannah Sarkine and freshman Kristen Zink delivered a pair of two-out RBI-doubles.

Much of the same over the next two frames for the Cards as seniors Maddie Flasco and Bailey McElwain reached base safely on a hit by pitch and a walk, respectively, before consecutive singles from sophomore Courtney Hackney and freshman Katrina Wierzbicki boosted the lead to 4-0.

Capital managed to get one run back in the top of the fourth, as Alyx Slusher blasted a solo home run to make it 4-1. McElwain quickly upped the Cards' lead to 6-1 in the final half of the inning on a two-run homer to left field, which scored Flasco.

A run by the Crusaders on two hits in the fifth frame cut into the deficit at 6-2, but Otterbein had the last say in the run column with four runs on six hits with senior Megan Garner accounting for the walk-off base hit.

Junior Gabby Johnson notched another solid performance in the circle for her 10th win of the year, striking out five batters in her fourth shutout of the year.

Game Two – Won, 12-0 (5inn.)

The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead with six runs between the second and third innings, the first run coming off a wild sacrifice bunt play off the bat of Hackney as Owens scored all the way from first base after a series of misplays by the Crusaders.

Otterbein's half of the third frame proved to be the biggest scoring output of the game as it registered five runs on seven hits including six in a row with a two-run home run from Hackney.

With a 6-0 advantage in hand, the Cardinals would quickly add another six to their total in the fourth inning on as many hits and an error. The huge inning included run-scoring hits from McElwain, Owens, on a two-run homer, and pinch-hitter Maria Herron.

Owens had another solid day in the circle for her eighth win of the season and second shutout, sending down six Crusader hitters via the strikeout to go with no walks.